Our Labor is Not in Vain

Sunday, September 4 th

“Our Labor is Not in Vain”

1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Our labor is not in vain.

This weekend we are in the midst of celebrating and enjoying the national holiday, Labor Day.

This Federal holiday is held on the 1 st Monday of each September It was passed and adopted as an act of

Congress on June 28th, 1894.

The idea behind it as a day to recognize the Many contributions American workers had and have and

continue to make our nation strength prosperity and well-being.

I want to thank each of you for your hard work, past, present, and future.

From stay at Home Moms, working moms and dads. To end lineman 2 electricians to machinist. To coal

miners, military personnel, law enforcers. To teachers and school personnel. To business owners,

nurses, EMTs, customer service reps, truck drivers, bus drivers, delivery drivers, cooks, waitresses,

bankers, factory laborers, carpenters, painters, receptionist, tax preparers. Two careers. I'm not thinking

of. And to the careers, I'm not thinking of. Thank you to our retirees. Thank you for your work history.

Thank you for giving to the work of our Lord's Kingdom through your tithes and offerings. From your

earnings, all is so very gratefully appreciated.

What if there were ever to be a spiritual Labor Day celebration in recognition?

Perhaps we would thank Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for their spiritual laborers.

Job Joseph David Elijah Jeremiah Isaiah for their spiritual efforts.

These and so many more could deserve a huge thank you for their labor, for God's Kingdom. But all

endured great trials and tribulations, yet all preserved, and their labor was not in vain.

Ephesians 2 related that the household of God's Foundation has been built upon the apostles and

prophets, with Christ being its chief cornerstone.

Everything that they did, every trial, every tribulation, every wrong committed. Against them, they

endured, everything was worth the price that they paid.

The word used here in endured means to remain firmly committed to the commandments of God

despite temptation, opposition, and adversity.

And endured they did, physical and emotional turmoil and suffering, spiritual attacks from Demonic

forces tempted. Them to sin and to give up, to walk away, opposing their work and labor for the

Kingdom. And using other human beings and creating. Adversarial situations to have negative and even

cataclysmic event unfold to stop the work and labor of God. Servants, none of it stop the Saints of God.

They endured to the end.

The will and want to carry on, to complete their task were greater than easy. Way to bail and quit.

The Apostle Paul. Said it best in the closing hours of his earthly work for Christ Kingdom in Second

Timothy 4: 6-7.

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand., I have fought a good fight, I

have finished my course, I have felt the faith.”

Paul and all of them fought the good fight, they finished their course of work and commitments and

above all, they kept the faith.

Their work and labor were not in vain, you and I are living proof it was worth it.

Paul understood that the work of God is never in vain for the servants of his Kingdom, because there is a

big payday coming, as Paul relates in verse eight of Second Timothy 4.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall

give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Their labor, Paul’s labor, our labor is not in vain, working for Christ Kingdom is at times tiring, It is at

times a matter of endurance, It is a battle of will to preserve, to keep. Keeping on, to stand. Against the

foes of our Lord, mind, body, and soul.

There are times that we will be weary, but we must go on, times when we might. Feel that the

commitment of being the salt of the earth may have lost some saver, times when our light is dimming,

times when our wheel of love, long-suffering, and hope, maybe running dry, times when the storms. Of

life or strong in the harbor seems so far away, times when the price and cost of endurance may seem

way too high.

When these occur in I threw experience can tell you they will occur. Dig deep, make your resolution, and

resolve to carry on, to carry through when, the day and the moment.

Stand tall, your work and your labor is not in vain, It is a matter of sheer will sometimes. But it is worth

every bit of it.

Christ told us that as we work and labor for his Kingdom, that trials and tribulations will come our way,

but be assured of us victory because our foes were already vanquished, and we will be victorious. Our

labor is not in vain.

What is there in your life that may be causing you to question your resolve??

Your abilities, your work?

Is it marital problems? Financial woes? Your physical or mental health or perhaps a combination of

things.? Whatever it may be, you've got this. You are a child of God, a prized worker for the Lord and his

work. You are an ambassador for the Kingdom. You are a soldier of Christ Cross.

Your labor has not been in vain, your work is not in vain, and your labor and work for our Lord will never

be in vain.

You are fighting the good fight; you are completing your course and you will keep the faith.

Your labor is not in vain!

Thank you everyone for their work in the Kingdom.