“Well, that was for nothing”
That is a really dangerous statement when it comes to ministry. (Do not hear, “vocational ministry”—I mean the ministry that every believer is to be engaged in). It’s a dangerous statement but I bet we have all said it. As one that preaches, teaches, leads, writes, etc. there is much of my labor that I never see the fruit to. And sometimes I can be given to discouragement and think—“well, that was for nothing”.
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul is encouraging the church at Corinth to steadfastly engage in ministry as a result of the truth of the resurrection. For 57 verses Paul defends and expounds upon the reality of the resurrection. Then in verse 58 he makes this doctrine practical:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In other words Paul is saying, “because of the reality of the resurrection—drink from no other fountain, bring others in to drink, and do so confidently knowing that every bit of kingdom work is not in vain.”
The resurrection of Jesus marks of his exclusivity. Jesus is the fountain of life. All other fountains are murky waters that only sustain you for a season. Only the fountain filled with the blood that flows from Immanuel’s veins is able to remove the sting of death. All others cannot remove our death sentence. But Jesus gives eternal life and immortality.
Because of this exclusivity we must “be steadfast, immovable”. That means that we must reject the silly notion that any other fountain may satisfy. With Spirit-induced power we must resist the fleeting glamour of the perishing and cling to the often unattractive but yet eternally satisfying fountain of grace.
This also means that our enjoyment of Jesus is tied up in “abounding in the work of the Lord”. Jesus is not satisfied until all His people are home. And while we drink from the fountain of grace we do it with one compassionate eye towards those that are drinking themselves full of the perishable.
And we do all of this—both our own clinging and our calling others—knowing that no kingdom work is ever in vain. Everything else has the danger of vanity and emptiness. But that which will be eternal—namely, the kingdom of God—is the only thing that is never in vain.
Lord help me remember that my plodding today is not in vain. May I remember that the shiny moments and the dull moments are both—if done “in the Lord—for the sake of the kingdom and therefore are never in vain. May I, with my brothers and sisters in Christ, be about kingdom work. May this be my eternal aim.
