Abounding in the LORD
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.”
We live in times when it seems as if so many Christians are living in mediocrity instead of climbing to new heights every day. The Christian life should be one where nothing stops you from accomplishing the LORD’s work. The excuses abound as to why people can’t build churches, bus routes, reach the lost for Christ, or simply grow in the LORD; however, God makes it clear that every Christian should abound in His work. There are four things you must know, be and do to abound in the LORD’s work.
First, you need to know your position in Christ. Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren…” Two things are evident from this statement. First, he is testifying that he is a child of God. You will never abound in the LORD’s work when you doubt your salvation. If you are one who doubts your salvation, you need to get it settled so that you can begin the journey of abounding in the LORD. Second, Paul was testifying that he was a co-laborer with the brethren. One mistake many Christians make is that they take on a martyr syndrome that they are the only one doing something for the LORD. My friend, there are many brethren who are serving the LORD. Don’t think that you have to do it alone. Working with the brethren instead of fighting them will greatly help you to abound in the LORD’s work.
Second, you need to know what you believe. Paul said, “…be ye stedfast…” To be “stedfast” means that you are fixed or firmly established in what you believe. It is hard to abound in the LORD’s work if you don’t believe the work of the LORD is right. It is also hard to abound in the LORD’s work if you don’t believe that serving the LORD is the best life. If you want to abound in the LORD’s work, settle what you believe and believe what you settle. Stop going back and forth about what you believe. Settling what you believe in God’s Word will also settle that the LORD’s lifestyle is the best life to live.
Third, you need to be consistent in what you do. Paul told these Christians that they need to be “unmoveable.” Too many Christians change what they do and how they do it like you would change your bath water. Let me encourage you to stop looking for new ways to do things and just do what you know to do. Pastors who constantly change the church program are hurting the stability of their members; they then wonder why the people won’t get involved. People don’t need to come to church wondering what is going to change this week. Settle what you believe and how you are going to accomplish it. Once you settle this, don’t change how you do the LORD’s work. Stick with your methods of accomplishing what you believe. You will find that if you are unmoveable in how you do the LORD’s work that you will give the work the time to make its impact.
Fourth, you need to always be about the work of the LORD. You will never abound in the LORD’s work if you only work for Him at assigned times. Christian, the work of the LORD should be the lifestyle you live. When the LORD’s work becomes what you do 24/7, you will find that it will result in you abounding in His work. Start the journey today to become an abounding Christian. The more you abound in the LORD’s work, the more lives the LORD can change through your work for Him.