Never Give Up

By Pastor Trent

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10

In June of 1955, Sir Winston Churchill, near the end of his life, was asked to give a commencement address at a British university. He was so physically weak he had to be helped to the podium. He held on to the podium for what seemed an endless amount of time. He stood with his head bowed down but finally looked up. Then the voice that years before had called Britain back from the brink of destruction sounded publicly for the last time in history: "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." With that, Churchill turned and went back to his seat. The crowd rose as one to applaud him because here was a man whose life and words were in sync. During the darkest days of World War II when country after country was being swallowed by the Nazis, when German planes were bombing English cities into piles of rubble, when the threat of invasion seemed imminent, Churchill never lost hope and never gave up.

As we finish thinking about the church as family, sometimes it can be a real challenge to love everyone in the family. We have all experienced disappointment in our lives because we have extended ourselves to others only to have them NOT return the same level of care or concern. At times, it makes us want to forget about what Paul says in Galatians 6:9-10. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of God.” Paul clearly communicates that doing good should be done, specifically, toward our church family. The good we do may appear to be unimportant or without notice, but, if we continue to sow good in the lives of others, we will see the harvest in time. How much good we reap is dependent upon our willingness to continue sowing.

I’ve had the following relationship commandments in my office for years. They have encouraged me more than once to Never Give Up doing good to others:

1. People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
-Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish motives.
-Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. -Succeed anyway.

4. Honesty and frankness makes you vulnerable.
-Be honest and frank anyway.

5. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
-Do good anyway.

6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest ideas.
-Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
-Fight for the underdogs anyway.

8. What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
-Build anyway.

9. Give the world the best you'll get kicked in the teeth.
-Give the world the best you've got anyway!

Read Galatians 6:1-18.