Flipping Our Way of Thinking

I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

Sometimes words need to take on a different meaning in our lives.  Think about the words "stubbornness" and "contentment".  Normally, we would think of one in a negative context (to be stubborn is not normally a trait to be desired) and the other in a positive context (it's normally a good thing to be content).  Right?  Not necessarily.  Consider the verse above.  We are called as believers to be stedfast & unmoveable in the work of the Lord.  That sounds kind of like stubbornness to me.  Did you know you ought to be stubborn about some things?  When the majority of Christians around you are giving their half-hearted, excuse-ridden and lethargic effort, you must dig your heals in the sand and say "NO, I'M NOT GONNA LIVE LIKE THAT!  I REFUSE THE HALF-HEARTED CHRISTIAN LIFE!  I REFUSE TO GIVE GOD MY LEFTOVERS!  I'M GONNA STAND ON HIS WORD AND GET BUSY IN HIS WORK!"  That kind of stubbornness is really good.  But not many are stubborn like that.  

Equally, this verse tells us to abound in the work of the Lord.  Abounding implies movement.  Did you know there is a good kind of contentment and a bad kind?  The contentment that says "Lord, you are all I need.  If I have you and nothing else, I will be good" is the good kind of contentment.  But the contentment that says "I'm alright with my life how it is now and I don't want to change the status quo or get too radical about anything" is not a good kind of contentment.  As believers, we must learn how to hold dearly to the good kind of contentment (in the Lord) but adamantly refuse the bad contentment of keeping things at the status quo.  We must always be abounding toward the next thing God wants us to tackle for Him.

The work of the ministry is difficult.  No, actually I believe the work of the ministry is impossible!  But we serve a God who makes the impossible possible everyday.  Believer, if you are discouraged today because of the difficulty of being involved in the work of the Lord, take heart and don't give up!  Your labor in the Lord is not in vain!  Be stubborn and refuse to quit.  Be content in the Lord, but don't be content to sit still where you are today.  Get up and get moving and join God in His impossible work.  It's the only life worth living.