ENCOURAGEMENT TO CONTINUE 

            "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 Corinthian 15:58). Our verse begins with the word "Therefore". I am sure you have heard that when you see the word 'therefore' you need to look at the preceding verse(s) to see what it is 'there for'. This is the concluding verse to a lengthy chapter dealing with how the resurrection of Jesus assures the future resurrection of all the saved. The ultimate victory of the child of God is assured because it is the Lord that gives it: "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 57). This promise should encourage each and every believer to continue faithfully in their service for the Lord! This promise was written by Paul to his 'beloved brethren' and I hope you can see yourself as one he is writing to.

            Satan is always busy trying to discourage the saved from being faithful to the Lord. The lack of obvious results from our labor can be a factor in causing us to cease what we are doing. One can wonder, "What is the use?" The Lord, however, does not require results from us, but He has commanded us to just be faithful. Satan will also cause believers to doubt their ability to give adequate service to the Lord. We need to remember that we do not serve in our own ability, but it is the ability of the Lord working in us we should rely on. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). We must be steadfast in our faithfulness to the Lord and not allow Satan, or anyone else, to move us away from the service we need to be giving to the Lord!

            The command to be steadfast and unmovable, however, does not mean we are to be anchored down and sedentary or just stand around doing nothing. We are to be 'abounding' in the work we are doing for the Lord. One can get the idea of being so excited at the prospects before us to be in the service of the Lord that we are jumping up and down with excitement. We should be excited to know that even the simplest things we do can bring glory to our wonderful Savior! "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We also should be abounding in our efforts to make our lives to be a blessing to others who live around us. Solomon wrote these encouraging words, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it" (Proverbs 3:27). While it is very true that your faithful service will bring glory to the Lord and good to others, you should never lose sight of the fact that the best thing you can do for yourself is to be abounding in your work for the Lord. You must do it while you can because death can soon bring your service for the Lord on earth to an end. Once again, it is wise to obey what Solomon wrote: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). However, many have had disabilities attack their bodies and have lived their final days wishing they had done more for the Lord, but they were no longer able to do anything for Him, for others, or for themselves.

            Everyone is serving either the Lord or the world. Many who are living for the world are sowing a lot of wild seed and then praying for a crop failure! However, their wild seed will bring forth weeds and briars and will bring nothing but problems to the world around them. Yet, our verse promises that when we faithfully serve the Lord that what we do will not be in vain (or wasted) . You are never wasting your time when you are abounding in your service for the Lord! It is His grace that makes you able to serve Him in an acceptable way. You do not work alone! The Lord is working with you so don't waste the grace He has given. "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1).