We read from the lips of our blessed Lord Jesus that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:11And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1)). In the Greek language, that word ‘to faint’ is en-kakein, formed from the word kakos, meaning “cowardly.” But from “cowardly” it came to mean anything that was bad, mean or base, for to the Greeks cowardice was all that. The first part of the word, en, means “in”. The whole word taken together means literally, “Give in to evil.” We find it translated by such words or expressions as faint, lose heart, be discouraged, turn coward.
The evil about us is so strong, the battle is so fierce, and the result seems so hopeless, the sides appear so unequal, that as we pray, we are tempted to say in our hearts, if not with our lips, “It is hopeless, it is no use praying any more for that person; I’ll give up.” “No!” the Lord says, “No! Do not give in! Do not lose heart! Do not be discouraged! Do not turn coward!”
We are really on the winning side. The Lord is still on the throne. He still sits on the waterfloods, and the Lord on high is still greater than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea (Psa. 93:44The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (Psalm 93:4)). So, cheer up! Take courage! Pray on! Pray always! And never turn coward, never give up.
In Troubles and Sickness
This word en-kakeo is only used six times in the New Testament, and each is very instructive. We have already seen the first time it is used, and that is in connection with prayer. Next it is used twice within a few verses of each other, in 2 Corinthians 4:11Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2 Corinthians 4:1) and 4:16. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not...For which cause we faint not; but if indeed our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” And so though troubles and sickness and sorrows come down here, and consume our outward man, there is no need to lose heart, no need to be discouraged, no need to turn coward, or give in to evil.
Weary in Well Doing
The next place we find it is in Galatians 6:99And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9). “Let us not be weary in well doing,” or, as the JND translation renders it, “Let us not lose heart in doing good.” It is so easy to lose heart in doing good. That poor soul you helped out the other day later proved to be a crook and not in need at all, and you vowed you will not be taken in as easily again. No, no; let us not be discouraged; let us not give in to evil. Next time you may turn away somebody really in need; and “whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Prov. 21:1313Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13)). Or that Sunday School class that is so noisy and unruly! It seems to be useless to try and go on with them. Give it up! It’s not worth trying any longer!
I once did that. I once had a desperately bad Sunday School, and at the advice of an older brother, I gave it up. About three weeks later I met one of the children on the street and she said, “Oh, why did you give up the Sunday School? I wanted so much to know I was saved. I think I would have found the Lord the very next Sunday; but I had to go somewhere else, and there I found the Lord.” Another time an old brother urged that I should give up some children’s work that the Lord had opened up. I was much perplexed and went for advice to another old brother, and to my amazement he said: “Take on more work of that kind; but never give up! All giving up is of the devil.” That was more than fifty years ago, but how often have I thanked God for those words.
Herbert Taylor, Hudson Taylor’s eldest son, once told me that he was at one time so discouraged that he said to his father, “Father, I’m so discouraged, I’m going to give up.” His father replied, “All discouragement is of the devil!” God is “the God of all encouragement” (2 Cor. 1:3 JnD). No, beloved, God’s Word is clear. “Let us not lose heart in doing good.”
In Tribulation
Next see Ephesians 3:1313Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:13). “Wherefore I beseech you not to faint through my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” Paul “despaired of life” in his tribulations for the Ephesian saints, but he did not turn coward (Acts 19:23-4123And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. 41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:23‑41); 2 Cor. 1:88For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: (2 Corinthians 1:8)). He was ready to go in and face the mob who were thirsting for his blood. There is no need to be discouraged even if tribulations do come.
Nay, rather, “we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience [endurance].” (Rom. 5:33And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Romans 5:3)). The word “tribulation” comes from the Latin word “tribulum,” which means “a flail.” I suppose most of my readers have never seen a flail, such as they used to use to thresh wheat. I have used it, and seen the terrible “tribulation” it gives to the wheat. But that is the way the wheat is delivered from the chaff.
In Daily Work
The last place we find this word en-kakeo is in 2 Thessalonians 3:1313But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (2 Thessalonians 3:13). “We hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” I suppose this means you and I are not to be discouraged, not to lose heart, not to turn coward, through the grind of our daily work in the office, the shop, the kitchen, the field, the school, or wherever else it may be. Let us do our daily work to the Lord and not unto men, and let us not grow discouraged in it. It is our Lord’s own command. There may be much evil around you. It may be unspeakably hard, but even so, let us never give in to evil; never turn coward, never lose heart.
So, to sum up, Let us not give in to evil, whether it be —
In failing health and old age. 2 Cor. 4:1, 4:16
G. C. Willis (adapted)