Our labouring is not in vain
Philippians 2:16
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
What does vain or vanity mean? In this case the word means: Not effectual; having no efficacy; Empty; Fruitless; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. Paul is saying that the work of the ministry, is not in vain.
So, as Christian wives, mothers, homemakers and female bible study teachers our ministry is also not in vain. It's important to remember that:
• Our time studying God's Word rightly divided is not in vain.
• Obeying our husbands as God commands us, is not in vain.
• Raising our children in a clean, safe, comfortable and healthy Christian environment (being keepers at home) is not in vain.
• Teaching our children God's word rightly divided is not in vain.
• Helping others, especially helping them spiritually, is not in vain.
• Sharing the Gospel is not in vain.
• Teaching sound grace doctrine to fellow saints is not in vain.
• Teaching Biblical womanhood and homemaking is not in vain.
• Dressing and behaving modestly is not in vain.
• Having a meek and quiet spirit is not in vain.
• Living godly overall is not in vain!
The reason why none of these things are "in vain" is because they all bring glory to God as we allow Christ to live in and through us. All of these things have meaning and purpose and help to bring others to Christ or helps fellow believers to mature spiritually through the word.
It's important to also remember that we need God's word built up in our inner man first. Anything that we do in our own fleshly efforts is in vain, because our flesh cannot produce anything of true spiritual value. When we walk after the flesh, it is vanity, meaning that it will burn up at the believers judgment seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
So, as believers we need the daily renewing of our minds with Bible study, believing what we read, and yeilding ourselves over to obey it, which allows Christ's light to shine out through us to others. So, we must "hold forth the word of life". This means sticking with God's word rightly divided and not being swayed away with every wind of doctrine. We also "hold forth the word of life" as we teach God's word to others and as we live it out.
Because of this, we can "rejoice in the day of Christ." What is the "day of Christ" and what does this mean?
The day of Christ includes:
• The pre-tribulation rapture of the Church the Body of Christ. This is the day that we receive our glorified bodies, meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air, and are then taken by the Lord to the heavenly places which is our eternal home.
• It also includes our believers judgment seat of Christ. This is when we will be evaluated for how much sound grace doctrine that we have understood, believed, and obeyed and not just the quantity but also, basically, how spiritually mature we are! This judgment is by the Lord Jesus Christ using the word of God rightly divided. We are not judged for sin, because as believers our sins were judged already at the cross, but we are judged based upon our spiritual maturity level. The more spiritually mature that we are, and the more understanding of God's word rightly divided that we have, the higher of a position we will receive in God's heavenly government.
• It also includes the Lord Jesus Christ presenting us, the church the Body of Christ, to God the Father. We are presented to him as "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;". [Eph 5:27 KJV - "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."]
So, again, everything that we do in our bodies here on earth, with Christ and His word living in and through us as believers, is not in vain and will cause us to rejoice in the day of Christ! And all glory will go to God!
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