“And let us not lose heart in doing good,
for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
So then, while we have opportunity,
let us do good to all men, and especially to
those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10

We are instructed in the Word of God to do good. Consider Paul’s words in Galatians 6:10, “let us do good to all men.” While Paul tells us that we should especially do good “to those who are of the household of faith,” we should not neglect doing good to all men, regardless of whether or not they are of the household of faith. We should not discriminate when it comes to doing good.

The only way a lost world will understand the love of God is if Christians do good to them. It is certainly not much to our credit to do good only to those who are of the household of faith or to those who do good to us. Jesus said, “If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that” (Matthew 5:46-47, Living Bible). Doing good to all men makes us distinctive.

Paul also tells us that we must take advantage of opportunities to do good. “So then, while [as] we have opportunity…” How often we miss daily opportunities to do good because we are too busy or too blind to see those opportunities.

It is easy to get so wrapped up in ourselves and our personal agendas that we neglect to see people around us who need for someone to invest some good in their lives. While opportunity sometimes knocks more than once, we cannot put off doing good thinking that it will continue knocking.

Paul also informs us that it is possible to “lose heart in doing good.” This is especially true when we labor without recognition, rest, or reward. Sometimes it seems that the only time people recognize our labor is when it is bad.

An old English rhyme states, “When I did well, I heard it never; when I did ill, I heard it ever.” Sometimes we labor without rest to the point that we grow weary and consequently lose sight of the bigger picture and of the contribution we are making to the work of God’s Kingdom. Sometimes it is easy to question why we should continue to labor, especially when we see no reward or result.

That is why Paul reminds us that our labor will not be in vain if we will keep on doing good. We do not always see instant results when we do good. Like a farmer who sows seed, it takes a long growing season before fruit is reaped. We must not grow discouraged thinking that nothing will come to fruition from our sowing of good. In due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

“And let us not [do not allow yourself to] lose heart [grow discouraged; lack endurance to carry on; faint or give up] in doing good [what God expects; “the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58)] for [because] in due time [at the proper time; God knows when the proper time is] we shall [speaks of certainty] reap [experience and enjoy the blessings (results) of doing good (what God expects)] if [note the condition] we do not grow weary [grow discouraged to the point of giving up].”