Do you ever get weary serving the Lord?

It’s possible, because Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary of doing good.” He shares one reason not to grow weary: “In due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

We can get weary of laboring without seeing results. But Paul says we will reap. We may not see the results we’d like in our lifetime. But God promises His Word won’t return to Him empty; it will accomplish what He purposes (Isaiah 55:11).

We can also get weary just because we’re tired. Spiritual work does take a lot out of us. Plus our physical lives can make us weary: if we’re not getting enough sleep because of a new baby in the house, or we’re working two jobs to make ends meet, or we have a lot of obligations on our plate, naturally we’re going to feel worn out.

And we can too often feel weary because we slip into doing things in our own strength instead of relying on God’s.

Jesus’ welcome invitation is, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

But there is a type of weariness that’s dangerous. In the book of Malachi, God rebuked the priests for giving “polluted” offerings.” God had given them specific instructions for the type of sacrifices they were to offer: the animal being offered needed to be in the best condition: not lame or sick or attacked by another animal and on its way to death anyway. There is a lot of symbolism to the sacrificial system that we can’t go into completely here, but some of the sacrifices representing Christ had to be perfect. Yet the priests weren’t offering the kind of animals God had told them.

Even worse, they said, “What a weariness this is.” Some translations say “nuisance.” or “tiresome.” Then they “snorted” at it–other translations say “turned up your nose” or “sneered.”

When God’s service seems tiresome, wearying, even a nuisance, our hearts are in trouble.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We don’t keep His commandments to earn His favor or to go through the outward forms of religion. We keep them, and serve Him, out of love.

John repeats this truth in 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” But he adds this statement: “And his commandments are not burdensome.” (“grievous” in the KJV).

God’s commands may not be easy to keep. We may not always understand them. But because we know Him, we know His character, and we love Him, we want to do what pleases Him.

Malachi’s prophecy holds out hope, though. In chapter 2, verse 1, God tells the priests, “If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name,” then He lists the punishments that will come upon them.

But notice that little word, “if.” That indicates it was possible to listen and take His word to heart. Throughout the Bible, God’s warnings are to encourage people to reconciliation, to a right heart.

And if our heart’s desire is to honor and love Him, then He promises:

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

May God give us grace to serve in love with with the strength He gives.

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