[04ctd]

Your Work is not in Vain
ÔÇ£Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain". I Corinthians 15.58

Our work matters to the Lord. We are to be excelling in the work that God has called us to do. We are to be the very best. The light of Christ should shine out of the business so brightly that others see Christ when they look at us in the business. We are to be steadfast in the direction of the business and our lives, not getting swept around by adversity. The Lord is given us a vision for the business, and we are to be steadfast in pursuing that vision. When the waves of business troubles sweep over us, we are to be immovable because our feet are firmly planted on the rock of Jesus Christ.

As we do so, we find God rewarding us for this.

"Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord - you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3.23

So when it gets hard, remember who we serve. When the impossibilities stack up to the ceiling, remember Christ owns our business, and we serve Him. When sometimes it seems uphill in every direction, remember that the work we are doing for Christ is not in vain - it matters forever. The reward is not better profit or more income, the reward that we are working so hard for from Christ is: "Well done good and faithful servant".

There is nothing happening to your business or life that is beyond the control of Jesus Christ. There is no set of circumstances that is impossible for Him to deal with. We serve a mighty God whose arm is not shortened, who does not know the meaning of ÔÇÿhardÔÇÖ, who deeply and passionately loves us, in spite of who we are. This is the God we serve through our businesses, through the impossibilities, through the things that seem just too hard. And that service is not in vain. It matters forever.

So we need to pick ourselves up off the floor, brush off the dust, and get back to it. But first, let us pray. Let us ask our Lord, Master, and Owner for the things we need to accomplish the task He has given us. What seems impossible to us is trivial for Him.

He has said: "Never will I leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13.5). He has said: "...and my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4.19). He has said: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him" (James 1.5).

With such promises as the very foundation of our businesses and lives, how can we fail?