Why We Labor

When we think of the reasons why people go to work, having fun isn’t usually at the top of the list. We go to work to provide for our families. Last I checked, nobody is handing out homes, groceries, or vehicles because of our good looks or our wonderful personalities. No, we set the alarm clock, get out of bed, and go to work because it is necessary in this life we live.

The question then comes: why, as followers of Jesus, do we work and labor in our faith? If we have been saved, why do we serve in ministries, why do we witness to the lost, or at the very least invite people to church? Why do believers give up hours a week to serve in things like Vacation Bible School, serve in Life groups, work with children or teens? Why do this when we could be out having a good time, or staying home and relaxing?

Paul gives us the reason that believers serve the Lord. 1 Timothy 4:10, “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” Paul makes it so very clear for us: we serve because we have fixed who we are and all that we will ever be on the Living God. We serve and work because our God is the Savior of all men. We serve for the One who conquered death and the grave and has given to all the path of eternal life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ are willing to give up what the world has to offer so that others may have the opportunity to come to Christ, and in doing this they store up for themselves treasure in heaven. This week I am doing a funeral service for a sweet and dear sister who went home to be with Jesus. This is a woman who was faithful to give her time to our food pantry and many other ministries here at Old Town Hill.  Now this woman didn’t just hand out food but made sure to hug and love on those no one else would dare touch. This is a woman who would stand at the doors of the church and greet everyone with a smile and a hug; by the way, she was a hugger. This is a woman who started a women’s bible study during the week, but she opened it up for the community, and it is still going strong even after all these years and will continue even now. This dear sweet sister was no bigger than a cricket but had a heart the size of Texas.

Yes, she gave and sacrificed so that others would have the chance to hear the Gospel, but today I have no doubt she stands with her Lord and is now able to see all the treasures she has stored up for all these years of service here on this planet. She labored and strived because this sweet sister fixed her eyes upon her Lord and Savior.

So, let us take up the mantle of such a saint and labor for the cause of Jesus. Let us fix our eyes upon the Lord and not look at the things of the earth that are here today and gone tomorrow. There are still those who need us to point them to the Jesus that loves them.