Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
Most people take pride in their vocation. Particularly, those who invested years of schooling so they can earn the right to enter into a particular vocation, like medical doctors, lawyers, or engineers. When I graduated from my doctoral program at Pittsburgh Seminary, I was gratified for the accomplishment because I knew the hard work and dedication it took to reach that goal. I was particularly excited to know that I had further cemented my commitment to work for the Lord at the highest level.
When I think about pastoral ministry, I am humbled for the privilege to serve the Lord in that capacity. It is indeed the greatest honor that can be bestowed upon any human being to be working for God. The benefits are unrivaled and astonishing. The Lord offers the best health care plan. He insures our lives both in this world and in the world to come. He supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Everyone in the Lord’s employ gets promoted. The Lord is just in His assessment of our labor. He offers the perfect training program so we can perform at the optimum level of efficiency. No one gets fired from their position in God’s employ despite their poor performance. The Lord offers the best retirement plan, and we do not have to wait until the end of the year to get our bonuses.
Unfortunately, a vast majority of people are turning down the best job offer ever. Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection paved the way for anyone to join God’s kingdom enterprise. The job interview is very simple—confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9). Our only assignment is to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord provides His Holy Spirit to help us do that assignment.
Working for the Lord is not all about sacrifices and suffering. There is much joy in working for God. It is good to serve the Lord. The greatest joy, peace, and happiness we will ever experience is in working for God. I wake up every morning excited about working for God. I know that my labor for God is not in vain.
I can appreciate what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Disciples of Jesus should face every day with renewed enthusiasm for the opportunity to work for the Lord. After all, the one who employs us is mighty and strong, patient and king, long-suffering and faithful, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Though our best labor is but filthy rags in His sight, He keeps on blessing, increasing, elevating, and rewarding us daily.
The most amazing aspect of working for God is that we are not only employees, but we also have an ownership stake in His enterprise. The Bible says we are joint-heirs with Christ Jesus. We will judge the world at the end of times (1 Corinthians 6:2). So, the hours we are investing in kingdom work is a worthwhile investment in our own eternal future.
Let us therefore not make any excuses for not giving God our all in our service to His Kingdom. Giving all that God has planned for us, we should be quick to love and forgive, eager to use our time, talents, and treasure to God’s glory, great commission-driven, disciple-making focused, and church-building resolute. The Lord is calling you and me to recruit future employees for Him. We do so by the way we love one another, by the way we feed the hungry and help the poor, and by the way we let our light so shine in the world to the glory of God. Prayer- Blessed Lord, thank you for allowing us to be laborers in your kingdom. Please give us the courage to continue recruiting other laborers for your kingdom for as long as we live.
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