“Therefore, 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 Corinthians 15:58
The apostle Paul makes a striking statement in this verse. The truth is that no matter what happened today, nothing is wasted. Regardless of the tragedy that haunts yesterday, we are not lost. Though facing an uncertain future, our existence is not meaningless. We can joyfully give ourselves wholeheartedly to God’s call on our life because nothing done in the Lord is ever in vain.
You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
These words of assurance come at the very end of 1 Corinthians 15, which is all about the resurrection of Christ. Paul begins by verifying the factual reliability of the resurrection reporting that over 500 different people saw the resurrected Lord Jesus alive. The chapter continues by answering doubts and questions many had about resurrection. Paul then explains how the resurrection of Christ is the first-fruits, the foretaste and proof of the resurrection of all who are Christ’s own. What God did for Christ Jesus in the middle of time, He will also do for all who are in Christ at the end of time. He will raise us from the dead, transforming our bodies to be like Christ’s glorious body and completing the work of restoring His beloved creation. Since Jesus died and was raised, so shall we. This is our sure and certain hope, giving us faith and confidence. Yet it is not merely a hope for life after death, it is power and strength for this day. If God raises the dead than nothing we do is in vain. It all matters.
You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
These are powerful words. It means that if our prayers seem to go unanswered, not one syllable of our praying was in vain. It means that if those we have shared Christ with turn away from the Lord, our work was not wasted. It means that if a beloved friend does not receive the healing we’ve cried out for and in their death the disease seems to win, it’s not true. Not one second of our suffering has been in vain. God uses it. Every thing we do in Christ counts for eternity. Every bit gets wrapped up into God’s ultimate purposes.
You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
These really are powerful words. It means that the sickness that darkens your days will not, can not keep you from the fruitfulness God has designed you for. It means that when your finances look bleak you need not tremble, God will provide for you. It means that when you’ve lost your job, you have not lost. You matter to God. It means that when loved ones die, its not over. It means that when relationships are shaken, all is not lost. It means when your work seems unsuccessful, it is not in vain. When your service is unappreciated, it still matters. God somehow uses it in His plan to to restore His creation.
You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
You see, we don’t actually see the end result of our faith, hope, love, trust, worship and service. We see the immediate results, but not the end results. God takes the offerings of our lives and uses them to further His work of new creation in the world. Every moment you trust God when it seems crazy to do so God uses it to bless the world. Every time you stand firm when you rather just collapse under the weight, God uses it to show His strength in your weakness. Every time you face trials of many kinds God uses it to further and deepen your faith and character. So trusting, persevering and suffering matter even if we feel like they don’t. Nothing done in the Lord is in vain.
You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
God is doing resurrection work in us and in the world. He is calling the dead to life. So if your prayers, work or service seem to die on your lips or fall from your hands, fear not because you know better. Nothing dead stays dead very long with this God of ours. He has overcome the grave. Your work is not in vain. On the cross and in the resurrection Jesus redeemed us so that all we do and each moment we offer to Him gets wrapped up into that work of redemption. All your labor in the Lord matters. Keep on serving. Keep on praying. Keep on walking humbly with your God. Rejoice! Give thanks! This moment right here will be used as part of God’s large and unrelenting plan to overhaul this broken and hurting creation. So let nothing move you. It all matters. Stand firm in the Lord. It is never in vain.
Pastor Tim Osborne