Yesterday we discussed the heathen and their vain imaginations. A Christian’s work is not in vain.
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.
Not in Vain
Yesterday we discussed the heathen and their vain imaginations. A Christian’s work is not in vain. A Christian should not be doing what he is doing to build up self but rather to please the Lord. As Christians, we were created for God’s pleasure, not our own. A heathen has vain imaginations because they only think of self and what they can do to promote self. A Christian should only think of what can bring glory and honor to the Lord at the cost of reducing their own standing in this world.
Stedfast and Unmoveable
A Christian first needs to be stedfast and unmoveable if they are going to have works that are not in vain. You need to have your focus or fixation on the Lord and pleasing him if you are going to be stedfast. When we start to focus on what can save our neck or keep our pride from being hurt, our focus is in vain. At that point we are just like the heathen with their vain imaginations. We cannot move or backup in our heart and mind about what the Word of God is telling us what to do. We must maintain our convictions. When we let the world and the devil try to influence us to change, they will always push us to look at self. The saying “just get over yourself” applies here.
Always Abounding
The work of the Lord needs to abound or grow in our lives as Christians. When we quit growing as Christians, we cease to do the work of the Lord. If you are not constantly trying to change and become more like Christ every day of your life, you will eventually fail and the flesh will take over. The only way to over come this wicked flesh is to always abound in the work of the Lord. It does not say you can abound for a year, quit for a year and then start up again. It says you need to “always” abound or grow. Christian growth is a denial of self as you become more and more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The more you look like Christ, the less you look like self. Are you still growing? Can others see it in you?
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