09 03 07 Vain Labor?


“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Is our work worth the effort? Is all my labor VAIN LABOR? I sometimes wonder! Paul writes here and to the Philippians (below) that our labor involves hard physical work. It will get tired and weary to work at times. At times we will say to ourselves, “Is all the effort worth it?”

So why work when it seems all in vain? Why seek the lost when they seem to ridicule our efforts? Why keep getting up, sacrificing sleep at times, putting off my agenda for God’s business (not just studying the Word and evangelizing, but serving family, assisting those in need, and giving of our time and resources)? Paul shares why he did all.

“…holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:16)

We don’t do it to please our family, our friends, or even those in the church. We do it so that on that Day when we see Jesus, we will rejoice and be able to see the smile upon His face as He knows we did it all for Him, not for me! It’s never VAIN LABOR when it labor for Jesus!