The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for several years now, demonstrating their financial strength and transparency. Its mission is to honor the sacrifice of Stephen Siller and his fellow first responders who died during 9/11. Their main focus has become supporting these heroes and their families by providing mortgage-free homes, building custom-designed smart homes for the catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. CEO Frank Siller also aims jn eradicating veteran homelessness.  This reflects T2T commitment to helping those who have served and sacrificed for our country. The foundation’s mantra is “why we have time let us “Do Good”.

Paul commanded us to persist in doing the good until the harvest is reaped. Paul realized that from time to time faithful workers for the Lord become fatigued. I believe we are seeing the fruit of weariness today. First, as Christians living in a hostile world we must…

I. Persist in Sharing Good Things. Vv. 6

1. Paul instructs the church to “communicate” “good” to those who teach the word…the logos. In Roman 12:13; we have the same word “koinōneō” translated “distributing” meaning to share with others the necessity of saints but it also conveys to enter into fellowship, join oneself as an associate, make oneself a partner. Paul is referring to giving and supporting pastors, teachers, evangelists, ministers and missionaries. These are usually the people on the front lines. — Ephesians 4:11-12

2. Folks, not to support church leadership and serve in it ministry is self-centered. Our trouble is what we say about Christianity is what we say about everything else: “What’s in it for me?” In our selfishness, we think of God as we think of others—in terms of what He can contribute to us personally. That is why churches are failing… In other words, we want God to be our servant.

II. Persist in Spiritual Sowing Vv. 7, 8

1. God calls us to do good so in a world were good is considered evil; choose to do the good! It won’t be easy as time moves on and evil increases but continue.

Romans 12:21 tells us, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. While the world tells us what is not immoral and sinful– we simply must determine to do the good! We must persist in good spiritual things e.g. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, sharing and caring for one another. The principle of whatever a man sows, that he will also reap has application beyond giving and supporting teachers and ministers and missionaries. 

It has a general application in life; what we get out of our lives is often what we put in.  Yet, Paul is not promoting some law of spiritual “karma” that ensures we will get good when we do good, or always get bad when we do evil.  Paul simply relates the principle of sowing and reaping to the way we manage our resources before the Lord. That’s what Paul is talking about, giving of one’s time, energy, support, resources, finances, faith, hope and love.

2. What are you sowing? God expects good people, saved people, his people to sow good things. If we spend all our money and energy on ourselves and waste all our time on that which is sinful and selfish, we will never be satisfied!

The sinful nature says; there is never enough – The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap abundant life and eternal life.” If we want to reap to the Spirit, we should not hesitate to sow to the Spirit with whatever resources God has given us. A farmer reaps the same as he has sown.  If he plants wheat you get that.  In the same way, if we sow to the flesh, the flesh will grow strength and increase in power. If we sow to the spirit, the spirit will flourish and overcome the flesh.

3. James mention in chapter 4:17, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Sin will take you further than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay. Paul states in Romans 7:21, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Evil is present in us disguising itself as good, controlling us and deceiving us. Sin is why the atonement was necessary. Christ died on the cross to make us one with Him dead to sin and alive to righteousness. — Gospel

III. Persist in doing Good vv. 9-10 … And let us not be not weary in well doing”

1. The word translated weary means “to lose heart,” to become discouraged. It is human nature to lose the desire to continue because of difficult circumstances or unfulfilled expectations. This is especially true when results are not immediately apparent; when, in fact, it seems as if our work is unproductive, unappreciated, or unrewarded.

2. Well-doing – to reap the full harvest of the good – requires continued effort. Discouragement will cause us to quit before we have reached our goal.

3. The word translated “faint” literally meant to loosen or relax in such a way that a thing became weakened. It was used of a bowstring that had lost its tension, thus lessening the efficiency and power of the bow. It was often used of becoming physically weakened through hunger or exhausting labor.

4. Paul recognized an inescapable truth: doing the good often produces emotional and physical exhaustion. Today, we call it “burn-out.” The word “opportunity” in verse ten is the same as the word “season” in verse 9. It means a limited amount of time, a decisive period. The implication is that we must seize the opportunities given to us to do good because they may not present themselves again.

5. To avoid fainting, it is vital that we find time for spiritual, physical, and emotional refreshment. Tired people (emotionally or physically) are less productive, prone to mistakes, and more vulnerable to discouragement and depression. Some have said, “I’d rather burn out than rust out.” The problem is, either way you’re out. The promise of the harvest “in due season we shall reap” “In due season” reminds us that there is a relationship between seedtime and harvest. We have “opportunities” to do good. When they arrive, it’s time to sow. For every opportunity, there is a time appointed for harvest. To miss the former is to lose the latter. We missed the opportunity with our youth. WOL

6. “We shall reap” is God’s promise to the faithful and believing. On this basis, Paul charges us to take the opportunities God gives us. Persevering comes from the sure knowledge that God will keep His Word, the time of harvest will arrive, and therefore, our labor is not in vain.

5. The promise of the harvest is this: “in due season we shall reap” In due season” reminds us that there is a relationship between seedtime and harvest. For every opportunity, there is a time appointed for the harvest.

6. “We shall reap” is God’s promise to the faithful and believing. On this basis, Paul charges us to take the opportunities God gives us.

  — Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Folks, there is no retirement from service to God, but there are seasons of life that affect what kind of service we do and how effective we can be.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

One must ask as a student of the Word the question, “Why were the Levites supposed to retire at age 50 (8:25, 26)? They were required to retire from active service at age of 50. This is not a mandate for priest today. However, they were not released from all service. This retirement wasn’t a complete break from service, but rather a transition into a new role. The reasons were probably more practical than theological.

1. Moving the tabernacle and its furniture through the wilderness required strength. The younger men were more suited for the work of lifting the heavy articles. I find myself unable to do some of these types of duties.

2. They were allowed to assist with various light duties. This helped the younger men assume more responsibilities and it allowed the older men to be in a position to advice and counsel them.

The listing of the age limits for service as a Levite seems to teach a truth that active service for God demands the utmost and the best in strength and wisdom. The service of God, whether in the training, active or semiretired stage was vital for the success of God people on their journey. It is for the success of God people in His church too.

Application:

I don’t believe that there is any place in scripture that suggests that we should retire from doing the Lord’s work. However, there are definitely different seasons of life and we should prepare for the different changes that take place in this process. For us to quit altogether is wrong; we occupy until HE comes.

However, to hang on to something that we are no longer able to do is not good. It has become very evident to my wife and me that it is time to pass the mantle to a younger pastor. It is a bitter sweet decision. We both love this congregation and church. But with both our declining health and with obvious future ramification we have sought council and spoken with family and we believe God has made the time now. I wanted to retire at 68 but covid hit… I am retiring from full-time ministry but will stay active in ministry wherever God takes us. Our timetable is two to three months possible early August.

The board has allowed me to make recommendations for a pulpit committee I suggested Juan Bravo, Tom Holmes, Bob Paugh, Keith Light and Maggie White. The church board voted and accepted these as good choices. I have follow up with Pulpit supply and have recommended an interim pastor and will make suggestions for candidates for the pastorate…

Conclusion:

Charles Swindoll once wrote, “Each of us by our thoughts, attitudes, and actions is constantly planting for a future reaping. Time may pass before the crop ripens, but the harvest never fails.