Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

The enemy wants you to quit, he wants you to give up, he wants you to compromise and “go with the flow.” After all, that’s a much easier proposition. And it’s important to know that the “run with the crowd” mentality doesn’t end well. But God is calling us to a much higher place, an eternal purpose, a work that produces heavenly dividends. And unlike the stock market, with its ups and downs, investing in eternity is a guaranteed yield and positively affects people who are in desperate need of hearing the truth in a cacophony of lies, deceit, and empty promises.

We all get tired at times. Most of us experience days, maybe weeks, in which we are tempted to believe that our efforts are not making any difference at all. But if you are investing in eternity rather than just chasing after the world’s trappings, you are doing a good work. If you are following the calling of God on your life, you are participating in the most important of all endeavors, that of serving the kingdom of God. And while we are all gifted differently, with different personalities, the work is the same…declaring the gospel to a lost and dying world and helping to grow strong, fruitful Christians who will take their rightful place in kingdom work as well. 

So, in our passage, Paul reminds us to “keep on keeping on.” He encourages us to “go the distance.” He reminds us that serving God, while not always received in this world, is of utmost value and is a work that will never disappoint. He speaks of four (4) things that we need to keep in mind, keys that will help us find encouragement, even on those days when we feel defeated. 

1. Be Steadfast 

Christians should be steadfast. The word “steadfast” means that we are resolute in our continuing to follow Christ. We are unwavering in having lifestyles that are honoring to God. In a world that often “doubles down” on depravity, sin, and the chasing after all kinds of idols, we “double down” on our devotion and loyalty to our Savior. The world, even if they don’t say so, is counting on you. If you are a born again believer in Jesus, the world will be watching your life. Yes, some people will put you “under the microscope” in a desperate attempt to find anything about you that will prop up their position of challenging God and Christ. But for others, they want you to succeed in that they are looking for something real, something tangible that can bring them hope. Your consistency and steadfastness in living your life for Christ can remind them that there is hope, even if they have not found it for themselves. This is to what Paul is referring when he says the following:

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us, we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

  2 Corinthians 5:20

Our message, as Christians, is that we, too, have lived apart from knowing God and having a relationship with Him. But now, through Christ, we have been brought near to God, received and accepted by Him. So, we now become His representatives on earth, urging people to be reconciled to God so that they can come to saving faith in Christ. This is the role of every born again believer in Jesus Christ…to bring others to saving faith in Him. This is not just the job of the pastor or minister rather all believers should be using their spiritual gifts to spread the good news of Jesus. That is why it is so important to be steadfast, not wavering rather determined to “run your race” and live your life out for Jesus.

2. Be Immovable

God is a fixed point in this life, in that He never changes nor does His Word. We, as His ambassadors, should also provide, to the world, a fixed point, being people that others can trust, people that are consistent in the way that we live our lives. Being immovable, like that of being steadfast, is that we are firmly positioned in Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, thus we are dependable, knowledgable, and trustworthy. We do not waver back and forth like those who move from philosophy to philosophy. We know the truth…we know Christ personally, and, because of our relationship with Him, are now able to be the steadfast, immovable people that the world so desperately needs to see. This is why we cannot compromise on the truth of God’s Word. We cannot fall for the enemy’s schemes of borrowing from God’s Word in order to support or promote ungodly lifestyles. Remember: the devil knows the Word of God too, but his desire is not to bring people to saving faith in Jesus Christ nor have them experience freedom from the law of sin and death rather his focus is on tricking and deceiving people into walking down paths of chaos, confusion, and destruction. But God has called us, as Christians, into lifestyles that exhibit spiritual change and transformation. Only as we live this way, filled with the very Spirit of God, can we be the steadfast, immovable, and set apart people that God has called us to be. God is unchanging. His Word is steadfast. Our message, to the world, should be the same.

3. Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord

There are three things here. First, is the word “always.” “Always abounding in the work of the Lord.” This refers to a continuous action, something that we should be doing as a consistent part of our life. This is why Paul calls on us to be steadfast and immovable. And because of this word “always,” we can add to those traits, that of being consistent. What happens when we, as Christians, stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, are immune from the wavering back and forth that describes much of today’s culture, and are consistent in our work for the Lord? These characteristics will yield fruit and allow us to have a more powerful impact on society and the world around us. What we see in our world today’s is, in part, a product of the church attempting to lure as many people as possible by tickling their ears and saying only the things that an unbelieving world can tolerate (2 Timothy 4:2-4). While this strategy may work for attracting others, it is wholly inadequate for seeing people saved in Christ and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why we must be steadfast, immovable, and “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”  

Secondly, we see the word “abounding.” This means that our work is not just constant and consistent but it is also “plentiful.” To “abound” is “to overflow” and “to exist in great numbers.” Paul reminds us about the idea of “abounding” as he teaches on giving:

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

2 Corinthians 9:6

“Abounding in the work of the Lord” is important because, often, we want to see results but don’t want to do what is necessary in order to enjoy those outcomes. Example: We want to see our families come to faith in Jesus and walk in the power of the Spirit daily, but have we shared the gospel with them? Have we taken the time to invite them to church? Are we discipling our family members? Are we living as examples of what serving Christ looks like? 

It’s interesting that the world seems to understand this concept when it comes to excelling in business, sports, or any other worldly endeavor that requires work and commitment. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, are we applying this to how we are living our lives for Christ? If we pay close attention to worldly things this way, being steadfast, immovable, consistent, and constant in our pursuit of things that are temporal, why wouldn’t we, all the more, dedicate ourselves to pursuing the Lord’s work? 

This “bearing fruit,” which is an expectation from God for all of those who claim His name, often gets confused with “working for our salvation.” We don’t participate in “the work of the Lord” so that we can be saved rather we do so because we are already saved. This idea often falls flat on the ears of those who simply want heaven as their eternal destination but don’t want to repent, surrender their lives to Christ, and who insist on living on their own terms. But spiritual transformation moves us into action and that is why Paul is reminding us to always be “abounding in the work of the Lord.” 

Thirdly, we have the description of what we are to “always” do, the task in which we should be “abounding.” Paul says, “always abounding in the work of the Lord.” What is “the work of the Lord?” It’s kingdom work. It’s eternal work. It’s joining and participating in what God is doing in this present generation, here and now. And how do we participate in this work? We do so by surrendering our lives to Christ, answering the calling of God on our life, using the spiritual gifts that He has given us, and then walking that out in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Surrendering our lives to Christ is the first step in “always abounding in the work of the Lord” because we simply cannot participate in this kind of work outside of having an authentic, saving faith. And this faith only comes as we are born again and spiritually transformed on the inside. So surrendering our lives to Christ is imperative. 

But we also have to answer the call. God has a purpose for each of us in Christ. It is our job to discover what that is and it’s not as difficult as you might think. How do we know what God is calling us to do? We ask Him! If you have been saved and truly want to operate in the fullness of the Spirit and in the power that comes from a life truly surrendered to Him, ask Him what it is that you are to be pursuing. Tragically, so many miss out on their purpose by chasing things that the world says are important, by making decisions based on how much money they will make or pouring into that which will propel them to a more advantageous position in this life. But those shouldn’t be the focal points in selecting a career or direction in life rather we should be starting from the point of asking God what He wants, the essence of what it means to “deny ourselves” (Luke 9:23).

So we surrender our lives to Christ, ask Him what He desires of us, and find out what spiritual gifts He has given us to use in kingdom work. Every born again believer in Jesus Christ has a spiritual gift or gifts. Spiritual gifts are different from natural talent however, the Lord may use those areas in which we excel for His glory. For example, an unbeliever may be an expert guitar player. When they come to saving faith in Christ, they can begin using their guitar playing skills to glorify God. They had the talent before their salvation but now they can unite their new life in Christ to their natural talent of guitar playing and find their ultimate purpose. For others, natural talent may not even come into play when using spiritual gifts. Some gifts we receive from God as a result of our being in Christ. A person may be completely without discernment but after their salvation, because God has opened their eyes, they receive the gift of spiritual discernment from God, and can now see the events around them accurately because of the Spirit within them. So, talk to a pastor or other trusted Christian person if you need help in finding out what your spiritual gift(s) are. 

But we need to also remember that everything we do for the kingdom of God is through the strength we have by the Spirit of God living inside of us (John 15:5). We can do nothing apart from God working in and through our lives. But this is actually encouraging because it means that as we serve God imperfectly, He can still take our efforts and turn them into something of great value for the kingdom. So, don’t kick yourself for not doing everything perfectly rather just praise God for the opportunity and walk in the power, strength, and wisdom that He gives you along your journey. 

We should always be abounding in the work of the Lord! 

4. Know That Your Toil In The Lord Is Not In Vain

Finally, we need to remember that our work in the Lord is not in vain. This can be the most challenging of Paul’s declarations and perhaps that is why he is giving us these words of encouragement. We live in a world that expects change to happen overnight. But if you have ever set out to conquer a task or new challenge, like working out, you know that strong beginnings are important but it is the commitment, consistency, and determination that play into whether we are successful. The same is true of our spiritual life. Perhaps you have been praying for someone for years, maybe even decades. If they are still alive and you are still praying, remember, it’s not over yet. What you thought would be impossible, in the life of even the most hardened of individuals, is possible with God (Luke 18:27). 

Discouragement is one of the enemy’s strategies but don’t fall for his schemes. Lies and deception are his ways so we must claim all of the promises of God available to us and walk in the power of God’s truth and Spirit. Then we will begin to see that what we are doing for the kingdom does count and will matter in eternity. 

Don’t grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Keep on keeping on! This is what Paul is declaring to us. We must be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our work in the Lord is not in vain and will continue to do, in the hearts of man, what it is designed to do…bringing people to saving faith in Jesus Christ!