Never Give In!

Never Give Up!

Not slothful in business (ESV)
... in diligence not slothful (ASV)
Never give up (CEV)
In carefulness not slothful (DRB)
... not lagging in diligence (EMTV)
Work hard and do not be lazy (GNB)
Never be lazy in showing such devotion. (ISV)

Here we understand that love works hard. Godly passion makes us focused, hardworking, and purpose driven. The gospel says we are not saved by works but calls us to work hard.

Oknerous, is the Greek word translated lazy or slothful and describes those who are slow due to hesitation, anxiety, or negligence. It is used in the Old Testament in Proverbs 6:6; 9 of those who allow inconveniences to stop them or who never move from the idea of a good action to actually do something about it (Proverbs 20:4; 21:25). Jesus the Messiah warns in Matthew 25:26 about professed disciples who hesitate to put their gifts to work and fail to live up to their eternal responsibilities.

The word translated "business" or "diligence" is the Greek word spoude which literally means speed or haste. Literally this verse would be "to not be slow in being speedy". But the word implies speaking or acting seriously. Doing what ought to be done as faithfully as we can do it. The meaning seems to be that we are not to become slow in doing what God wants to be the top priorities of our life.

The gospel calls us to a serious life. God sent His SON to die for our sins. God is serious about saving us. He wants us to share in being sober and serious people who are living disciplined and focused lives. We are to be seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness.

It is not easy to remain serious. We live in a culture that values entertainment and much of that entertainment makes us apathetic about seeking righteousness. Happiness is for us the opposite of being serious. Yet, only in being serious can we know joy.

For some of us we have been striving for decades. It is hard to keep the energy up. We sometimes lose heart. We feel the pressure of Ecclesiastes. We hear the song of "Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity" ringing in our ears and we begin slowing down in our seeking the kingdom. Our acts of faith become tempered by fear of failure and cynicism has us abandon doing what we know God has called us to do.

We must never give up. By remembering what God has done for us in Messiah Jesus and has given us in Messiah Jesus we can keep ourselves focused on God's purpose and plan for our lives. The Lord who has started a good work in us will finish it.

In 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke to a school. The days were dark. The power of Nazism seemed impossible to stop. It would be easy to give up and easy to surrender. In the midst of those dark and desperate times the Prime Minister spoke these words.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

We are in battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The enemy is telling us to give up. To give in and choose the broad and easy way is tempting. How can we hope to make a difference in the middle of such a dark and broken world? Yet, we must remember Nazism does not win. God's kingdom will come and God's will done on this planet. We must never yield and be faithful in doing our duty with diligence, focus, and faith.

This reminds me of a hymn I sang as a child: "This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet." (Maltbie D. Babcock – "This Is My Father’s World" 1901). We will need to review our performance and sing to our hearts the song of God's victory in Christ. As our morale rallies we will find that we can find new strength to press on and "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never ...