Some Ramifications Of Serving The Lord
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
Introduction:Last Sunday, I preached a message on “Some Requirements For Serving The Lord;”about some of the important qualifications that every servant needs in the work of the Lord. We have just recently voted on those that will be serving in different capacities in the church for the coming year, and the message was meant to be applicable to every child of God, but especially to those who will be serving the Lord in the various positions this year.
As we celebrate Labor Day tomorrow, a day that recognizes and celebrates the economic and societalaccomplishments and achievements of the work force, it is on my heart to talk further about service. And today, I want to look at a verse that tells us that our service for the Lord is not in vain.
This same truth is propounded in Galatians 6:9 where Paul says…
(Galatians 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
So many people just give up on serving the Lord. That includes preachers and pastors. And in light of the difficulties associated with serving the Lord in our day, it doesn’t surprise me.
It’s like the musician that I heard about. The story goes that…
An accordion player is driving home late one night after playing a concert. He’s tired and hungry so he stops at an all-night diner for a bite to eat. Halfway through his meal he realizes that although he locked his car doors, his accordion is in the back seat, in plain sight! He rushes out to his vehicle but he is too late. The windows are already smashed and someone has thrown in two more accordions.
I guess it’s hard to convince people to keep playing the accordion. And it’s hard to convince people to keep serving the Lord faithfully and fervently. But that is the objective of Paul’s words here in 1 Corinthians 15:58.
As we look at his statement here in 1 Corinthians 15, let’s…
I. Notice The Audience That Is Mentioned In This Verse
(1 Corinthians 15:58) 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.
A. Paul Directs His Audience To The Biblical Context Here
therefore – Greek 5620. hoste, hoce'-teh; from G5613 and G5037; so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow):--(insomuch) as, so that (then), (insomuch) that, therefore, to, wherefore.
This word tells us that what is about to be said is in consequence to what has already been said. It points us back to the previous verse and the preceding context. So what do we find in the previous verse, and what has been discussed in the preceding context that prompts Paul to now say, “Be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”?
He has talked about the Truth of the Gospel (vs. 1-8)
He has talked about the Truth of Grace (vs. 10)
He has talked about the Truth of the Graveyard (vs. 11-54)
Christ’s Triumph over the Grave
Christians’ Triumph over the Grave
He has talked about the Truth of the Game (of Life and Death) (vs. 55-57)
* It may seem like Death has the last word and that Death is the winner in life. But Christ actually has the last word; He is the winner in life.
Albert Barnes said…
In view of the great and glorious truths which have been revealed to us respecting the resurrection, Paul closes the whole of this important discussion with an exhortation to that firmness in the faith which ought to result from truths so glorious, and from hopes so elevated as these truths are suited to impart.
B. Paul Describes His Audience As Beloved In Character Here
beloved – Greek 27. agapetos, ag-ap-ay-tos'; from G25; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says of the use of this word “beloved”…
Sound doctrine kindles Christian love.
In spite of all the shortcomings and faults and failures of the Corinthian church, Paul still loves them. And his love for them is based on His love for God and Christ and the Word.
C. Paul Defines His Audience Through A Brotherly Connection Here
brethren – Greek 80. adelphos, ad-el-fos'; from G1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (lit. or fig.) near or remote [much like H1]:--brother.
The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says of this word “brethren (NT:80 – adelphos) that it can refer to (and it does in this context)…
A fellow-believer, united to another by the bond of affection; so most frequently of Christians, constituting as it were but a single family; … in the phraseology of John it has reference to the new life unto which men are begotten again by the efficiency of a common father, even God.
II. Notice The Admonition That Is Mentioned In This Verse
(1 Corinthians 15:58) 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.
A. He Admonishes Us To Be Grounded In The Truth
stedfast – Greek 1476. hedraios, hed-rah'-yos; from a der. of hezomai (to sit); sedentary, i.e. (by impl.) immovable:--settled, stedfast.
The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says of this word “stedfast” (NT:1476 – hedraios)…
Hedraíos means first “seated,”“settled,” then “steadfast,”“solid,” and in the OT “permanent.” … There are only three instances (of this word) in the New Testament. … In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Christians are to be steadfast and immovable in the light of the resurrection.
Marvin Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says that the word “stedfast”…
Refers to their firm establishment in the faith
As Matthew Henry said, we are…
Fixed in the faith of the glorious resurrection of the dead.
B. He Admonishes Us To Be Guarded In The Trials
unmoveable – Greek 277. ametakinetos, am-et-ak-in'-ay-tos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of G3334; immovable:--unmovable.
3334. metakineo, met-ak-ee-neh'-o; from G3326 and G2795; to stir to a place elsewhere, i.e. remove (fig.):--move away.
So the idea is that we will not be stirred to a place elsewhere; we will not be removed or moved away.
Marvin Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says that the word “unmoveable” refers…
To that establishment as related to assault from temptation or persecution.
The Pulpit Commentary says…
Our labour must be invincible. The two words, “steadfast” and “unmovable,” express this. So many are the impulses within, so many are the forces without, opposing the work, that nothing but an invincible determination can carry us through. We must have a purpose strong enough to bend and subordinate everything to itself. “
As John Benson, Jr. wrote…
Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved;
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.
C. He Admonishes Us To Be Growing In The Task
always abounding in the work of the Lord
always – Greek 3842. pantote, pan'-tot-eh; from G3956 and G3753; every when, i.e. at all times:--always (-s), ever (-more).
abounding – Greek 4052. perisseuo, per-is-syoo'-o; from G4053; to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (trans.) to cause to superabound or excel:--(make, more) abound, (have, have more) abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above).
work – Greek 2041. ergon, er'-gon; from a prim. (but obsol.) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by impl. an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says that…
The work of the Lord(is) the promotion of Christ’s kingdom.
Albert Barnes wrote…
[Always abounding in the work of the Lord] Always engaged in doing the will of God; in promoting his glory, and advancing his kingdom. The phrase means not only to be engaged in this, but to be engaged diligently, laboriously; excelling in this. The “work of the Lord” here means that which the Lord requires; all the appropriate duties of Christians. Paul exhorts them to practice every Christian virtue, and to do all that they could do to further the gospel among people.
III. Notice The Awareness That Is Mentioned In This Verse
(1 Corinthians 15:58) 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.
A. We Know That There Is A Reason For Serving
forasmuch as ye know
knowing – Greek 1492. eido, i'-do; a prim. verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equiv. G3700 and G3708; prop. to see (lit. or fig.); by impl. (in the perf. only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot.
Albert Barnes wrote…
[Forasmuch as ye know] Greek “Knowing.” You know it by the arguments which have been urged for the truth of the gospel; by your deep conviction that that gospel is true.
The way this is stated in other versions and paraphrases of the verse is helpful in understanding what is being said…
(1 Corinthians 15:58 – The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language) With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. (A paraphrase by Eugene H. Peterson)
(1 Corinthians 15:58 – NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers, 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.
The idea in this phrase is that because we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord and because we are confident of that, we can always abound in the work of the Lord and we can be stedfast and unmoveable. This is our confidence and this is our reason and motivation to keep serving … that God has the record, that what we do for Him will ultimately be worthwhile.
B. We Know That There Is A Reward With Serving
your labour is not in vain
labour – Greek 2873. kopos, kop'-os; from G2875; a cut, i.e. (by anal.) toil (as reducing the strength), lit. or fig.; by impl. pains:--labour, + trouble, weariness.
Other resources say that one meaning of this word has to do with taking a beating. It suggests the exertion and the subsequent weariness that is put forth in battle or work.
vain – Greek 2756. kenos, ken-os'; appar. a prim. word; empty (lit. or fig.):--empty, (in) vain.
The Pulpit Commentary says that…
The work of soul restoration MUST INEVITABLY SUCCEED.
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary explains this phrase in light of the context saying…
Not in vain– as deniers of the resurrection would make it (1 Corinthians 15:14,17).
Matthew Henry said…
The motive resulting from the former discourse is that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord; nay, they know it shall not. They have the best grounds in the world to build upon: they have all the assurance that can rationally be expected: as surely as Christ is risen, they shall rise. … True Christians have undoubted evidence that their labour will not be in vain in the Lord; not their most diligent services, nor their most painful sufferings; they will not be in vain, not be vain and unprofitable. Note, The labour of Christians will not be lost labour; they may lose for God, but they will lose nothing by him; nay, there is more implied than is expressed in this phrase: it means that they shall be abundantly rewarded. He will never be found unjust to forget their labour of love, Hebrews 6:10.
C. We Know That There Is A Relationship In Serving
in the Lord
Albert Barnes said…
[In the Lord] This probably means, “Your labor or work in the Lord, that is, in the cause of the Lord, will not be in vain.”
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says…
In the Lord – applying to the whole sentence and its clauses. Ye, being in the Lord by faith, know that your labour in the Lord (i.e., according to His will) is not to be without its reward in the Lord (through His merits and according to His gracious appointment).
So the phrase suggests that which is done in His will, for His cause, in His strength, according to His guidance and direction.
John MacArthur said…
Our work for the Lord, if it is truly for Him and done in His power, cannot fail to accomplish what He wants accomplished.
Conclusion:How many of you remember the movie, “The Karate Kid”? The storyline involved a teenage boy named Daniel who moves to a new area and starts having problems with bullies. An older Asian man named Mr. Miyagi helps Daniel by using Karate to scatter the bullies. Daniel asks Mr. Miyagi to teach him Karate, and he agrees. But when he shows up at his house, Mr. Miyagi puts Daniel to work waxing cars and sanding floors. This goes on for several days, and Daniel is confused as to when his Karate training will start. But behind all of the tasks that Mr. Miyagi had assigned to Daniel was a purpose. These tasks are disciplining Daniel’s body and preparing him to face his opponent in Karate.
Similarly, we may not understand what God is doing sometimes in our lives and in our labor. But there is a purpose and a goal behind all that we are doing for the Lord. It will payoff one day! He is conforming us to the image of Christ. He is preparing us to be what He would have us to be.
Your labor is not in vain in the Lord!