Therefore, my beloved brothers, 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
After camping out for most of chapter 15 in the
future talking about the future resurrection of the godly, Paul brings His
audience back to the present in verse 58 by calling for them to “stand firm”
upon these truths and “work hard” in light of them.
First he tells his readers to “Stand firm.” He says,
“Be steadfast and immovable.” “Steadfast”
is an adjective that means to be sitting.
Paul says “Take your seat on this truth—be fixed, settled, and seated upon
it.”
He says, “What I have told you about your future
resurrection is true, therefore stand firm on that truth.” Paul knows that if this
core doctrine of our future resurrection ever waivers, we will begin to live
like the world. If we question the eternal we will lose a kingdom
perspective and fail to live with eternity in mind in the present. For that reason, we must stand firm on these
truths and must not let our flesh, the world or the enemy move us from them.
Second, Paul says, “Work hard" with the truth
of your future resurrection in mind.
Now there are two words in the second half of this verse that need
attention. First is the word “work” and second
is the word “abounding.”
The word “work” means to labor to the point of
exhaustion or perspiration. Paul says, “Work
until you are wearied.” His point here is
that there is no vacation time in ones spiritual life. We are to always be striving—always to be seeking
to grow in our knowledge of God from His word and always to be living for His
glory.
The word "abounding" means to overdo it on purpose. Paul says that we are to be going above and
beyond in our spiritual lives—purposefully overdoing it for the Lord. It should never be said of us that we settled
for a sub-par Christian life.
