“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. 1 Corinthians 15:58
In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read what is, or could be in vain. Ecclesiastes 6:11-12 “Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? The word “vain” in verse 11 means the “breath of the mouth life” and “which he spendeth as a shadow?” is symbolic of how transitory this physical earthly life is. The word “vanity” in verse 11 is the same Hebrew word. The word “vanity” is used 28 times in the book of Ecclesiastes, more than any other book in the Bible.
There are many people that choose the tragedy of living wasted lives. And even Christians can live vain lives if they are not in a proper relationship with the Lord. Our Lord created us and saved us to glorify Him! We glorify Him on this Earth in this time by being used of Him to labor in His Work! We have been called and sent by our Lord to be His messengers and servants. Our Lives will impact this World for Him by not being spent in vain! Our Work is to fulfill the Great Commission! Our mission is the Great Commission! The Great Commission is to evangelize and plant churches!
Our labor of love empowered by the Holy Spirit is not in vain. The meaning of the word “labor” means intense labor united with, in some instances, trouble. The word “vain” in this verse also means not without purpose and not without a gift. Our Lord has not only promised Redemption, and Regeneration, but also the Resurrection and the Rapture. Our Lord will then give us the honor of being a part of His Millennial Reign after the Tribulation.
Proverbs 10:16 “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Our LORD will complete His Work! (With us or without us). We must decide not only to labor in His Work but abound in His Work!
Written by Jesse Garza, Field Administrator with Baptist World Mission