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Labor in the Lord

The work we do as Christians in this world is never in vain.

For many people in our nation, Labor Day signals the start of school and an end to lounging around during the summer. In the United States, we celebrate Labor Day to honor and recognize laborers.

My family celebrates this holiday with a backyard barbecue each year. I work to get the yard looking nice. I slave over the hot coals and smoke. When the day is over and the celebration has ended, everyone goes home and gets back to work. Some may wonder, Why labor so hard for one day? Besides the food and fun of gathering with family and friends, what is the lasting benefit?

We may ponder this question in other endeavors in life. Why do pastors spend so much time laboring for a 20-minute sermon? Why do teachers spend hours preparing a math lesson? Why do we go to our jobs each day, living our Christian lives through our vocations, when the results seem to go unnoticed or are fleeting and soon forgotten?

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We don’t always see the blessings that come from our labors. We work hard to serve others, but that service may seem to be taken for granted. We offer our time, talents, and treasures for the Lord’s work with seemingly no results. We can become disheartened and discouraged and even wonder, Why labor?

Our God addresses this question for us in his Word. He reminds us that our labors for him and in him are never in vain. The prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul share some beautiful encouragements:

“I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God’ ” (Isaiah 49:4).

“Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The work we do as Christians, workers in the Lord’s kingdom living our lives as lights in a dark world, is not in vain.

Author: Snowden Sims
Volume 112, Number 09
Issue: September 2025

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    Pastor Sims is a 1980 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran High School, a 1985 graduate of Northwestern College, and a 1989 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He presently serves as an associate pastor at St. Paul's, Columbus, Ohio. He also serves as the Michigan District President. He is married to Melinda who is an instructor at The Ohio State University. They have a daughter, Erika, who resides in West Allis, Wisconsin. In his spare time Pastor Sims enjoys fishing, hunting, working out, gardening, playing guitar, and listening to jazz.

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