Since He is Risen
Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
The Bible contains many unqualified promises. They are wonderful and amazing, so different from the uncertain promises of this world. Good things that are promised may come our way, or they may not. But when God promises something it is certain, for “the mouth of the Lord has spoken it” (Isaiah 40:5), and “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.” (Isaiah 9:7)
We have one such promise here. After encouraging his readers to remain steadfast and abound in the Lord’s work, Paul adds the promise that such work will not be in vain. This is not an uncertain thing but something we are to “know.” It is stated as an unqualified promise. Our work for the Lord is not in vain, ever. What we do “in the Lord” will never be for nothing.
Labor done in the Lord is everything we do because of our faith-connection with Christ, as He promises, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” (John 14:5) It is work done in response to Christ’s word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is showing the love of Christ in our dealings with our neighbors. It is bringing up children in the training and admonition of the Lord. It is doing and supporting the work of the church with your prayers, offerings, and time.
All this will never be in vain; which is to say that it will be abundantly fruitful and wonderfully productive. We won’t always see it, for the fruit of our labor in the Lord is growth in faith and love that takes place in the heart. But we know that our work is not in vain because Christ has conquered sin and death, and He lives to fulfill His promises to His people