“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:58
The world has always had a tendency to drift.
Cultures drift. Values drift. Organizations drift. Families drift. Churches can drift. And if we are not careful, individual hearts drift too.
Usually, drifting does not feel dramatic. That is what makes it dangerous.
A boat does not need an engine to drift. It simply needs to stop holding its position.
Against that tendency, Paul gives Christians a very different command:
Be steadfast.Be immovable.Keep working.Keep excelling.
The answer to a drifting world is not drifting Christians, but steadfast believers doing steadfast work.
And Paul gives us an extraordinary reason:
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
In other words, there is an eternal ROI—Return on Investment—to faithful work done in Christ.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” — 2 Corinthians 9:8
“I am diligent and disciplined in my duties, while desperately desiring His purposes and fully depending upon God for the right results, always delighting in Him even when I don’t fully understand His dominion.”
The Christian life is neither passive nor self-reliant. It is an active partnership in which we faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us while humbly trusting Him with what only He can accomplish.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…”
Revelation 7:9
The Ultimate World Cup
When the Nations Gather for the King
Recently, the United States has welcomed people from around the world for the World Cup. Fans travel thousands of miles. They fill airports, hotels, restaurants, streets, and stadiums. Different languages are spoken. Different flags are waved. Strangers become friends for a moment as they celebrate something they love together.