DIXON

This one verse, coming as it does at the end of a really great chapter, is full of challenge and appeal, and it is surely meant to fill all who are engaged in the work of the Lord with joy and with quiet confidence. Notice, to begin with, how careful Paul is to identify those to whom he is writing.

1. THE PEOPLE ADDRESSED.

The apostle is not writing to all and sundry, but to his "beloved brethren", his brothers and sisters in Christ, his fellow believers. From this chapter we learn from verses 1, 2 and 11 that Paul was addressing those who had "received the gospel", who had "believed" and who were therefore "saved". In the Lord's work, the workers must always be the Lord's people, look up Matt. 21:28. Are you one of God's "sons"? Look up Gal. 3:26. Before you can serve you must be a son, a child of God, look up John 1:11-14. No one is qualified to be a worker for the Lord who has not first been born again, look up John 3:3 and 5.

2. THE REASON STATED.

Paul goes on to give a reason why we should engage in "the work of the Lord". The reason is referred to by his use of the word "Therefore", which takes us back over the whole chapter. He says, "Therefore, because of these things, be ye stedfast . . ." Because of what things? What is our motive for serving God? What is it that constrains and impels us? Look up 2 Cor. 5:14 for one important answer to this question. Here, however, Paul gives a different answer. The reason why we are to stand firm and be constant and earnest in our service for the Lord is that we have a glorious gospel to proclaim, verses 1-3; the Lord is risen and is alive and exalted, verses 4-20; we shall rise again, verses 21-50; the Lord is coming back again, verses 51-53, and death, sin, Satan and Hell have been overcome, verses 54-57. What use is it to preach the gospel and serve God if there is no resurrection? If sin and death and Satan and Hell have not been conquered? Look at verses 30 and 32, and compare verses 24-28. But the victory of Christ is complete! So notice what follows:

3. THE WORK DESCRIBED.

Christian service is here described by the Apostle Paul as "the work of the Lord". Dr. Alexander Maclaren says that "the work of the Lord is either the work that He is doing, or it is the work that we are doing in His Name", But it is both! It is His work, for He is the Great Worker, look up John 5:17; but it is also our work, for, look up 2 Cor. 6:1. In Mark 16:19-20 we have a perfect illustration of "the work of the Lord", do study these two verses carefully and see the picture: Jesus, the Worker in Heaven; His servants going forth to do His work; and the Lord from Heaven "working with them" doing things! Thus, we learn that the Lord's work is His work accomplished in and through us; it is our work entered upon and carried through in His enabling and with His blessing. Notice five things about "the work of the Lord":

(1) It is Great Work. See how the Lord's work is described in 1 Sam. 21:8 and Neh. 6:3, and see how Jesus described "the work of the Lord" in Luke 2:49.

(2) It is Sacred Work. To get a glimpse of the sacred nature of Christian work turn to Eph. 2:10. How careful, prayerful and dedicated we should be in engaging in such work!

(3) It is Varied Work. In God's estimation there is no division between sacred and secular. Hiram was doing the Lord's work, look up 1 Kings 7:14; so was Nehemiah, look again at Neh. 6:3; so was Dorcas, look up Acts 9:36 and 39; 50 was Lydia, look up Acts 16:14, 15 and 40. All these were doing the Lord's work, just as much as Peter and Paul were, look up and compare Acts 2:14 and Acts 17:22, and compare Col. 3:17-24, especially verses 17, 23 and 24.

(4) It is Hard Work. Just read 1 Cor. 15:30-31 again to see how hard Paul found it to serve the Lord, look up and compare 2 Cor. 11:23-28. God's work is never easy. Many today are finding the way very exciting, the Enemy sees to that, look up 2 Cor. 2:11. Many today are being frustrated on every hand as they seek to serve the Lord, and they see little fruit for their labor. The work is hard, look up Gal. 6:9.

(5) It is Exciting Work. Read the life story of the Apostle Paul, or of one of our modern apostles; or get the "inside story" of any one of millions of faithful workers who right now are "abounding in the work of the Lord", and you will have an up to date illustration of the fact that to work for the Lord is a very exciting business. Have you a testimony along these lines?

4. THE QUALITIES REQUIRED.

If we would be successful and well-pleasing servants of God we must be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord". We must have three qualities:

(1) Stability. We must be "stedfast, unmoveable". Our characters are to be like this, and so is our faith, and we are to be men and women of settled convictions, look up and compare Gal. 6:6 and Col. 2:6-7.

(2) Fervency. We are to be "abounding in the work of the Lord"; or, as one version renders it, "always doing more than enough"; and another, "always working without limit"! Many of the Lord's workers need a good strong infusion of enthusiasm, look up Acts 8:30. God make us run to do His glorious service

(3) Constancy. We are to abound in the Lord's work "always", not sometimes, but all the time; not in fits and starts, but with constancy. And, as we serve the Lord in this way, we have a deep assurance concerning the worth-whileness of all that we are doing. We know that we are sowing for eternity!

5. THE ASSURANCE ENJOYED.

"Forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord", or as one translator renders it, "your labor is not futile, never wasted or to no purpose"

Because the Lord Jesus has died and risen, and because He is our Victorious Lord, we shall go to live with Him in Glory. We work by faith now, look up 1 Thess. 1:3 and 2 Thess. 1:11; but the work we do "in the Lord" will last for ever, look up Mark 14:6-9 and Matthew 25:42-45. If we are engaged in doing God's work in His way, doing it for His glory and honor, we can be confident that our efforts will produce fruit for eternity.

All works are good, and each is best As most it pleases Thee;

Each worker pleases when the rest He serves in charity;

And neither man nor work unblest Wilt Thou permit to be.