Fruitful Labor

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Philippians 1:22-23

As believers in Jesus Christ we should desire to know Christ intimately and desire to be with Him. We also should be totally committed to the advancement of the kingdom and serving Christ on earth. Every believer should echo the words of Paul, to live is Christ, to die is gain. There is tension in that statement. Nobody truly desires to die but we do look forward to being with Christ forever. Paul clearly did not escape that dilemma, which he expressed so beautifully and in verses 22–26 of Philippians chapter1. He longed to be with the Lord, but if it was God’s will for him to live on in the flesh. He knew that would mean fruitful labor for him to the glory of God.

Fruitful labor is the work of the Lord, which the Holy Spirit always blesses. When “the word of truth, the gospel” is faithfully proclaimed it will be “constantly bearing fruit and increasing”. Paul is not speaking of good works that will earn salvation. All human works are powerless to save and actually vitiate the gracious, redeeming work of Christ. He is rather speaking of the Spirit-empowered fruitful labor for which we are “created in Christ Jesus, the good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

As you walk the Christian life are you committed to be used by God for fruitful labor? Are you eager to do the good works which God has prepared for you to do before the foundation of the world in order to glorify Him?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark