58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58)
Today, I want to focus on labor, that is, the work we do. I want to share a verse from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. This verse means a lot to me and my work. 1 Cor. 15:58 reads, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (NRSV) That last sentence moves my heart: “You know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Why? Because I often know the fearful feeling that my labor has been in vain: times when my work did not bring the expected results, or when those entrusted to my care did not respond to my leadership as I had hoped. I remember when efforts to shape the church in which I worked seemed fruitless. And, when I’m exhausted by overwork, I can worry that I am simply not making a worthwhile difference through my labor. Most people can relate to my experience. Even those who mostly love their work can go through seasons of doubt. Yet for all of us there is a promise we can rely on. According to our verse, we can know that “in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain.” It might feel in vain. But it is not, in the Lord. As we learned in last week’s Missions Conference, labor “in the Lord” isn’t just the work of pastors, missionaries, and others who work for religious organizations. Remember that God created us to work in the world. When we do work that is good, and when we do it for God’s glory, then we are working “in the Lord,” whether our work is so-called “sacred” or “secular.” Why is our labor not in vain? In part, our labor is not in vain because the work we do contributes in small ways to the goodness of the world. (Assuming, of course, that your work isn’t evil or unlawful.) I was thinking about this when we went to dinner last weekend. Our waitress that evening was Becky, someone who had served some of us before. We were so glad to see her. Why? Because her service is wonderful, not only serving food but also friendship. Now, I imagine that her work sometimes feels repetitive, boring, and just plain hard. Waiting on tables is not easy. But what she does, often with smile, really does make a difference. And so it is with all kinds of work. When we do good for the Lord, then our labor in Him is not in vain. Tomorrow, Monday, most of us will return to work or school. Our ordinary labor will resume. You may have various feelings about this. You might be glad to get back to work. Or sad that the weekend is over. Or worried that what you do doesn’t seem to have much meaning. But if you work “in the Lord,” that is, in service to Him, by His grace, and for His glory, then your labor will not be in vain. Tomorrow, as you return to your “ordinary” work, offer yourself and the work you do to the Lord. Let your work be an act of worship to God, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain Comments are closed.
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