Do Not Be Weary in Well Doing (2 Thessalonians 3:6-16)
Gary McManus, 03/04/2018Part of the DCC Basics series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
2 Thessalonians 3:6-16 (p. 1173 / p.1191)
TWO things today; two points.
This Jesus lifestyle COMES WITH A WARNING.
The Bible verse of the week:
2 Thessalonians 3:13.
Found also in Galatians 6:9.
First point: it really IS possible
to be weary in well doing.
Science calls it Compassion Fatigue.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon
Have known a variation of this for years:
Co-dependency.
A person does not help an addict recover
but by their “help” allows them to remain
addicted. (And the helper hurts themselves.)
Compassion fatigue: the physical and mental
exhaustion and emotional exhaustion
experienced by those that care for sick or
traumatized people over an extended period
of time.
How can you view the wreckage of human life
and NOT be AFFECTED?
But does not LOVE CONQUOR ALL?
That is not in the Bible.
Love hopes all things and endures all things
Which can keep you in the game, but not
resolve the problem(s).
“Caregiver resources”: 36 million results.
Check out The National Alliance of Caregivers
at caregiving.org.
It is designed to help the caregiver do what
the Apostle says—not be weary in well-doing.
Another form of compassion fatigue—
“giving” fatigue.
DCC knows and warns all every year.
Pray about what to do.
Even the ancient church had to be careful.
It was written within 100 years of Jesus’
crucifixion: The Didache.
Another way to say it is:
“do not ALLOW yourself to be weary in well doing.”
As true today as it was 2,000 years ago. . .
We can prevent compassion fatigue.
[Reminder: one can only GET COMPASSION
FATIGUE IF you HAVE COMPASSION.
Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. . .
Galatians 5:25-6:6
Remember the greatest commandments, Luke 10:27.
Simply put:
PUT ON YOUR OWN oxygen mask first.
Love yourself enough to care for yourself.
Love yourself to not be weary in well doing. Amen.
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