Labor in the Lord is not empty!
1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (EHV)
Happy Labor Day! Today we celebrate and honor the labor class in our country for all their contributions to our society. But how far do our celebrations go? If you work and labor forty plus hours a week, it is hard to find a reason for celebrating. Work is hard and it is not always fulfilling. Even when you labor in a field that is appealing to you, there comes a time when you wonder if your labor is worth the pain and toil. Sometimes we look to changing our labor field, but even then, the work can become empty and vain. We may even wish for retirement, but do we find meaningful labor.
What does your work in God’s kingdom look like? Do you find laboring in the Lord’s kingdom satisfying? Do you ever wonder if our work in the Lord is worth the pain and struggle? This is especially poignant when we labor to bring the good news to people and they reject it, or worse, hate us for it. Look at the work in our congregations. Year after year it seems our congregations are declining no matter what we do. It seems so worthless, empty, and vain. There is a temptation to give up.
Paul understood this when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15. It must have been difficult labor early in the church. There was persecution, attacks, and rejections from both Jews and Greeks. It would have seemed like worthless labor from a human point of view. But we have a different point of view. We view our labor in the Lord from the view of the resurrection. Paul goes into great detail about Jesus’ resurrection and what it means for us. We too will rise from the dead. But there is also another benefit of the resurrection. Our labor in the Lord’s kingdom is never worthless, empty, or vain. Our work to bring Jesus’ resurrection to people is satisfying labor. This is why we can be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the Lord’s work. We have a message of life when all the world can see is death. When people are grasped by sins meaningless and vain work, we can give them meaningful hope of life eternal and victory over the sting of death and sin. Jesus satisfies our labor in his kingdom. So give yourselves fully to laboring in God’s kingdom, because your work in the Lord is never in vain.
Dear resurrected Lord, thank you for giving us joy that can overcome our sorrow. Let us find satisfaction in our work in your kingdom. Give us opportunities to share the good news of the resurrection with people who see the emptiness of sin and death. In your name we pray. Amen.