NOT IN VAIN
1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
What a tragedy for one to get to the end of his or her life and then realize that all that they did their entire life was in vain. There is nothing as empty and as shallow as living life with the belief that life is all about me, and when I die, that’s the end. Many do spend a life time in the pursuit of things and pleasure, or fame and fortune, only to discover in the end that their pursuits were in vain. Only those who have placed their trust and hope in Jesus, the Son of God, as their Savior, have the opportunity to live a life that is not in vain. We must beware of the fact that it is possible for a believer to choose not to be February 17, 2018 “steadfast” or “immovable” or not to “abound in the work of the Lord.” Because of this possibility, Paul is admonishing the people of God to be “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” so that their life will not be lived in vain. If and when a believers’ work is not “in the Lord”, then whatever he/she is doing is in vain. Paul was not addressing preachers or minsters, but was admonishing all believers-you and I. Some do perceive that the “work of the Lord” is referring to those who are in “full time ministry.” The work of the Lord is not limited to preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, performing weddings and funerals, etc., but actually refers to everything we do. If we are walking in fellowship with the Lord, if we are hearing and obeying what He says to us, if it is our desire to please Him in all we do, then all that we do is “in the Lord.” Paul uses the word “toil” which indicates that some time the work of the Lord can be difficult and laborious, either physically, mentality, or spiritually, or all three. Because what we do, and how we live our life on earth has ramifications in the here and now, as well as in the life to come, we would be wise to take to heart the instructions that Paul gives in the above verse. Let us examine ourselves to see if what we do, what we say and what we think, flows out of our relationship with the Lord and let us determine whether or not we are indeed “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” “Abounding” is a great word which means or implies: “very plentiful, abundant, to be present in large numbers.” We can be continually abounding in the work of the Lord because His Spirit lives in us, always guiding and directing us in the things of the Lord-all we have to do is obey the promptings of His Spirit. Being “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” is the supreme life, the greatest life that one can live on planet earth. Any other life lived, will prove to be in vain.
John 6:28-29: “They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Blessings,
Buddy
1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
What a tragedy for one to get to the end of his or her life and then realize that all that they did their entire life was in vain. There is nothing as empty and as shallow as living life with the belief that life is all about me, and when I die, that’s the end. Many do spend a life time in the pursuit of things and pleasure, or fame and fortune, only to discover in the end that their pursuits were in vain. Only those who have placed their trust and hope in Jesus, the Son of God, as their Savior, have the opportunity to live a life that is not in vain. We must beware of the fact that it is possible for a believer to choose not to be February 17, 2018 “steadfast” or “immovable” or not to “abound in the work of the Lord.” Because of this possibility, Paul is admonishing the people of God to be “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” so that their life will not be lived in vain. If and when a believers’ work is not “in the Lord”, then whatever he/she is doing is in vain. Paul was not addressing preachers or minsters, but was admonishing all believers-you and I. Some do perceive that the “work of the Lord” is referring to those who are in “full time ministry.” The work of the Lord is not limited to preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, performing weddings and funerals, etc., but actually refers to everything we do. If we are walking in fellowship with the Lord, if we are hearing and obeying what He says to us, if it is our desire to please Him in all we do, then all that we do is “in the Lord.” Paul uses the word “toil” which indicates that some time the work of the Lord can be difficult and laborious, either physically, mentality, or spiritually, or all three. Because what we do, and how we live our life on earth has ramifications in the here and now, as well as in the life to come, we would be wise to take to heart the instructions that Paul gives in the above verse. Let us examine ourselves to see if what we do, what we say and what we think, flows out of our relationship with the Lord and let us determine whether or not we are indeed “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” “Abounding” is a great word which means or implies: “very plentiful, abundant, to be present in large numbers.” We can be continually abounding in the work of the Lord because His Spirit lives in us, always guiding and directing us in the things of the Lord-all we have to do is obey the promptings of His Spirit. Being “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” is the supreme life, the greatest life that one can live on planet earth. Any other life lived, will prove to be in vain.
John 6:28-29: “They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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