“…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
The above job description though brief, is also comprehensive as it describes a required attitude that is to be demonstrated by every believer, no matter where the Lord has placed them. But not only is our attitude and how we go about our “work of the Lord” of primary importance, but also, how we treat the divine encouragement, that no such “work” will ever be a waste of time or effort - “not in vain.”
I mention this because many Christians sadly view the “work of the Lord” in a dualistic sense. They tend to see the missionary, pastor, elder or any serving directly linked to the church as being the “work of the Lord,” while anything else is deemed secular or personal. That view is a tragic, as it denies God’s absolute sovereign ownership of who we are, which includes what we do.
It needs be said; the above job description is all inclusive of the church worker, the missionary, as well as the husband & wife in the home, the factory worker, the student as well as the retiree! No believer is excluded in how and where we are to serve the Lord. Some are granted more opportunities to proclaim Christ than others, but proclaim Him we must! Alistar Begg once said "There is no ideal place to serve God except the place where He has set you down." (Grace Quotes)
So lets serve the Lord as stated above, no matter where we are in the world.
We need to remember, that in a coming day when we stand before the Lord, it will not be about how successful we have been in winning people to Christ, or how many opportunities we have taken up to serve Him. What it will be is, have we been faithful in being “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” wherever he has placed us - that will be the question!