Did you go to work today? Did you get up, apply yourself, and expend energy toward an assignment at your job? Work is part of almost everybody’s life.

Now working is not the way to please God. Salvation doesn’t come by meritocracy—doing enough good things so God says, “I check you off; you’re good to go. You can come to heaven when you die.” No, salvation is a gift of grace and unmerited favor—God giving us something we don’t deserve or work for, something that His love compelled Him to offer us through Jesus Christ, His Son (see Ephesians 2:8–9).

But the Bible does talk about the work of the Lord, and it’s an all-important subject: “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” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV). What is “the work of the Lord”?

It’s the work we do for the Lord after becoming Christians. In other words, it’s the work God is doing in the earth and how He uses us to do it. That’s why the apostle Paul also wrote, “We are co-laborers with Christ” (see 1 Corinthians 3:9).

The work of the Lord has two prongs to it.

First, evangelism—spreading the good news. Remember, that’s the last thing Jesus told His disciples to do when He left planet earth: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel so more can come into the kingdom” (see Matthew 28:19–20).

This takes work and time. Sometimes it takes tears and praying over people we’re trying to persuade to open their lives to Christ and the salvation He offers.

Second, the work of the Lord involves discipleship, or helping new Christians get strong.

I once watched a show on National Geographic that showed baby turtles just after they were born. They were so fragile—and predators were waiting for them. New Christians are vulnerable too. They’re like babies (see 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; 1 Peter 2:2). Who’s going to take time with them, instruct them, warn them, even correct them? Who’s going to love them? Who’s going to cry with them? Who’s going to pray and say, “All right, you messed up. But come on, let’s go. We’re going to do this thing. The Lord’s going to help you”?

That’s part of the nurturing process, and it takes time and energy.

So the work of the Lord is evangelism, spreading the good news both where we are and around the world, and discipleship of new believers who have come into the kingdom.

But here’s the big disconnect with American Christianity: We’re self-absorbed. We have so many pity parties. Giving up time, energy, and money to devote ourselves to working for the Lord, for souls, for the kingdom, is not something that appeals to us. It’s about me, myself, and I.

“God, help me fulfill my dreams. I need help financially. I don’t know when I’m going to get married. Where’s that woman or man I’m looking for?” It’s all about us.

This, of course, is the opposite of the Spirit of Jesus.

The apostle tells us, “Be steadfast. Be firm. Don’t be going up and down. Get involved. Give yourself to it. It can be through a ministry of the church, a short-term missions trip, singing in the choir, being a prayer warrior. It could be handing out food, or spreading the gospel door-to-door. Don’t be fluctuating. Be firm, because your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Jesus said that the work of the Lord is what brought Him fulfillment: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34, NIV).

We all have a work assignment. I have one. Part of my work of the Lord is not just pastoring a church in New York City called the Brooklyn Tabernacle but also spreading the gospel. This post will hopefully encourage and build up people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The work we give ourselves to will bring us the same fulfillment Jesus had from doing His work.

Jesus didn’t wake up in the morning just to hang out. But that’s the problem of contemporary society. “Yo, what are you doing today?”

“I don’t know. I’m just hanging out. I be chillin’.”

Well, that is not the best way to spend our lives. We have work to do, all of us. It’s a great feeling to wake up in the morning and say, “What am I supposed to do today as part of the work of the Lord? Let me be Spirit-directed, Spirit-led.”

Decades ago I read that Francis Asbury, a great Methodist preacher, said to his young ministers, “Though the enemy attacks you in a thousand ways, and though there are discouragements all around you, you are never happier than when you’re doing the work of the Lord.”

I have found that to be true.

Let’s ask God for strength. Maybe God has called you to do something and you even started it but got discouraged. I know all about that kind of discouragement. I want to encourage you today: let’s do the work God has called us to do—the work of the Lord.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times I focus only on myself. Shift my heart away from my own desires, and fill me with Your Spirit so I can work alongside You. Give me the strength and focus to step away from distractions today and faithfully do the work You’ve called me to do.

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