Is it worth it?

1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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.”

Ever wonder if it’s worth it? Ever wonder if it’s worth following Christ? The “restrictions”, the expenditure of your emotional and financial resources, the service, the love given and not returned or even scorned, the constant giving for God, is it really worth it? Ever think “just leave me alone, I just want what I want right now”?

That, unfortunately, is how we’re wired, is how we became thanks to the first Adam, the original sin thing. We’re going to think those things. Yet, we have a choice. Those who know Christ know what that choice is, those that don’t, don’t. With so much of the world not knowing Christ, as Christians we should be deeply wounded by their fate and highly energized to show them The Way. The consequences are very real, and if we love like Christ loves us, we should not want to see anyone separated from Him. Do you remember what it was like before you knew Him? I do, and we are not unique in our feelings – it’s the way of the world.

“Therefore… stand firm” means what it says and “let nothing move you”, or sway you from saving souls. “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord”, tirelessly, unashamedly, unbashfully, in humble recognition of the work of love we’ve been charged with by our great and loving Creator.  “…Your labor in the Lord is not in vain” is a call to us to be secure in all of the above.

Is it really worth it? (Insert appropriate adjective here) YEAH! Think about it for a second or two – God, the God, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all the stars we can see and can’t see, of everything, wants a personal relationship with us to show us the love and joy that He is, and He wants us to be a conduit for Him to reach others. God wants to use me as a conduit to reach others, wants to use you as a conduit to reach others. Is it worth it? Yeah, it’s worth it.

I’m amazed that God, pure love, pure joy, pure life, would privilege a wretch like me to assist Him in His work. This is war against the forces of the world, and we need to choose to be willing soldiers, gleefully heading to battle knowing He has our back and will never leave us. The worst that can happen will only take us home to be with Him. Anything else is a discomfort that will all to soon pass when we hit eternity. I’m amazed at this opportunity and I hope you are too “…because labor in the Lord is not in vain.”