When Is It Time to Give Up?

The saying, “Never give up” has become cliche. But, it’s also wrong. As Christians, we ought to know better than to tell people, “Never give up.” There are times when we ought to give up. Here are some examples of when it’s time to give up.

1. Give Up When You Find Yourself Trying to do God’s Job

The fact that we can’t do God’s job rarely keeps us from trying. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves trying to solve the problems only God can solve, bear the loads only God can bear, and make the promises only God can make. When we find ourselves doing that…it’s time to give it up!

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” And in Jeremiah 9:23-24 it is written, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'”

2. Give Up When You Find Yourself Fighting Against God

Some of the wisest words ever spoken were spoken by a Pharisee named Gamaliel. It is recorded in Acts 5 that Gamaliel counseled the Sanhedrin not to fight against the followers of Christ, because if the disciples were right, the Sanhedrin would find themselves fighting against God.

This is exactly the position in which Saul found himself when Christ confronted him on the road to Damascus, in Acts 9. He was persecuting Christ and thus fighting against God. It is also the same position we find ourselves in when we sin. When we are doing anything which we ought not to do, we are fighting against God. When we find ourselves doing that…it’s time to give it up.

3. Give Up When You Find Yourself Misusing God’s Gifts

Like the servants in Matthew 25, we’ve all been given gifts from God; gifts of talents, gifts of time, gifts of opportunity. And like the servants in the parable, we will answer for how we have used that with which we’ve been entrusted.

When we use the gifts, which ought to be used for God’s glory, for selfish gain and self-satisfaction we disappoint and anger our God. When we live a life of laziness, burying that which God has given us, we disappoint and anger our God. When we find ourselves doing those things…it’s time to give up.

Is it time for you to give up?

When we are doing God’s will, no matter how much we feel like giving up, we must persevere. But, when we are not doing God’s will, no matter how much we feel like continuing on our current path, it is time to give up. Is it time for you to give up, stop doing what you’ve been doing, and change course?

Please feel free to leave a comment below.

I love you and God loves you,

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