Send us Fan Mail Your Labor Is Not in Vain Theme Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Introduction: God Remembers the Laborer When we think about people whom God used to labor in His Kingdom, we often think of the Apostle Paul. Paul did not serve God from a place of comfort. His ministry required sacrifice. He was beaten, imprisoned, rejected, shipwrecked, misunderstood, and abandoned by some of the people he helped. Yet Paul kept preaching, teaching, planting churches, encouraging believers, and winning souls. Paul testified: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck…” —2 Corinthians 11:24–25 After experiencing all of this, Paul could still write: “Your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Paul was saying, “I have suffered, but it was not for nothing. I have cried, but it was not for nothing. I have sacrificed, but it was not for nothing. I have worked when I was tired and served when I was hurting, but none of it was wasted.” Paul understood something we must understand: God never forgets work done for His glory. Some people may never thank you. Some may never recognize your sacrifice. Some may benefit from your labor without knowing the price you paid. But Heaven keeps perfect records. There are times when Kingdom labor becomes difficult: You pray, but do not see an immediate answer. You teach, but do not see immediate growth. You preach, but everyone does not respond. You serve, but nobody says thank you. You give, but nobody knows what you sacrificed. You encourage others while you need encouragement yourself. But the Word of God declares: Your labor is not in vain! 1. Be Steadfast When the Work Becomes Difficult “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast…” To be steadfast means to remain faithful, firmly established, and committed. A steadfast person does not quit because the work becomes hard. Noah is an example of steadfast labor. God commanded him to build an ark before there was any evidence of a coming flood. “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” —Genesis 6:22 Noah labored while people laughed. He built while people doubted. He obeyed while others continued living as though judgment would never come. Every day Noah hammered on that ark, he was declaring, “I believe what God said.” Illustration A farmer does not dig up the seed every morning to see whether it is growing. He plants it, waters it, and waits. Much of the growth takes place beneath the surface before anything appears above the ground. You may not see immediate results, but God is working beneath the surface. Keep praying for your family. Keep teaching the Word. Keep encouraging that young person. Keep serving the church. Keep planting seeds of righteousness. What you cannot see does not mean God is not working. 2. Be Unmovable When Opposition Comes “…unmoveable…” The enemy does not always try to stop your work; sometimes he tries to move you out of your position. Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem when Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking him to meet them in the plain of Ono. Nehemiah understood that their invitation was intended to distract him. “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” —Nehemiah 6:3 Nehemiah refused to come down because he knew his labor mattered. When you know that God has assigned you to a work, you cannot allow every criticism, disappointment, distraction, or offense to move you. The enemy will say: “Nobody appreciates you.” “Nothing is changing.” “Let somebody else do it.” “You have already done enough.” “You are wasting your time.” But you must answer like Nehemiah: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” Do not come down from prayer. Do not come down from holiness. Do not come down from your commitment. Do not come down from your calling. Do not come down from serving God. 3. Always Abound in the Work of the Lord “…always abounding in the work of the Lord…” To abound means to overflow, increase, excel, and go beyond what is merely required. Paul did not say to serve only when it is convenient. He said, “Always abounding.” That means: Serve when you feel encouraged and when you feel overlooked. Pray when you see results and when the answer seems delayed. Give when people know and when nobody knows. Worship on the mountaintop and in the valley. Remain faithful in good seasons and difficult seasons. Ruth demonstrated this spirit. She could have abandoned Naomi, but she remained faithful. “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge…” —Ruth 1:16 Ruth did not know that her faithful labor would place her in the lineage of Jesus Christ. She was simply helping her mother-in-law and gleaning in a field. Yet God was arranging her future. Sometimes what appears to be a small assignment is connected to a much greater purpose. Never say, “I am only an usher.” “I am only helping in the kitchen.” “I am only teaching children.” “I am only making telephone calls.” “I am only praying behind the scenes.” When the work is done for the Lord, there are no insignificant assignments. 4. Make Certain Your Labor Is “In the Lord” Paul did not merely say that labor is not in vain. He said: “…your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Everything we do is not automatically Kingdom labor. Labor is valuable when it is done: Under God’s direction According to God’s Word Through God’s strength For God’s glory With the right spirit It is possible to work for the church without working for the Lord. A person can sing to be heard, preach to be praised, give to be recognized, and serve to receive a title. Jesus warned: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them…” —Matthew 6:1 Our prayer should be: “Lord, purify my motives. Help me serve because I love You—not because I need attention.” People may reward the performance, but God rewards the motive. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” —Colossians 3:23 If you serve only for human recognition, you will become discouraged when people fail to recognize you. But when you serve as unto the Lord, you know that God sees everything. 5. God Will Not Forget Your Labor “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…” —Hebrews 6:10 People forget, but God remembers. God remembers: The prayers you prayed when everyone else was asleep. The money you gave when you did not have much. The people you helped who could not repay you. The tears you shed while serving others. The sacrifices you made for your family. The years you faithfully served His church. The times you showed up when you did not feel your best. There are blessings in your life today that are connected to seeds you planted years ago. Dorcas, also called Tabitha, was known for her good works and acts of kindness. When she died, the widows stood crying and displaying the garments she had made for them. “And all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made…” —Acts 9:39 Dorcas may have thought she was only sewing garments, but she was sewing love into people’s lives. Her labor had made such an impact that the people sent for Peter, and God raised her from the dead. What you do for others may appear small to you, but it may mean everything to them. 6. The Harvest May Come After a Season of Weariness “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” —Galatians 6:9 The Bible does not say we will never become tired. It tells us not to allow our tiredness to turn into surrender. There is a difference between becoming tired and giving up. Even Jesus became physically weary and sat by Jacob’s well, but He did not abandon His mission. While resting at the well, He ministered to a Samaritan woman. You may need to rest, but you do not need to resign. You may need encouragement, but you do not need to quit. You may need help, but you do not need to abandon the assignment. The harvest comes “in due season.” Due season is God’s appointed time—not always our preferred time. Illustration A Chinese bamboo seed may spend years developing underground before dramatic growth becomes visible. During that hidden season, the root system is being established. When growth finally appears, it rises rapidly because the foundation was already being formed. Your years of praying, teaching, giving, and serving are building roots. When God sends the increase, people may think it happened suddenly—but you will know it was the result of years of faithful labor. Support the show
