Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord
1 Corinthians 15:58 - Are you giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord?
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“Therefore, 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 a jump in time, from Genesis 1 in my last devotional to 1 Corinthians in the New Testament for today’s write up! That leap of thousands of years is what I love about having God choose the direction He wants to send me.
Today’s verse comes at the end of chapter 15 of Paul’s first epistle to the church of Corinth. This chapter is divided into three main sections providing explanations about the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection body each believer will inherit after death. This verse sums up all of Paul’s explanations in three short, important sentences. How important? Precept Austin devotes one entire immense commentary roundup to 1 Corinthians 15:58 instead of the verse being a part of another summary. Let’s look at the first two sentences:
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.”
At the start of this verse, Paul is about to sum up his discussion of the resurrection of the dead and victory over death through Jesus Christ. Paul had a deep love for the Corinthian believers, and using the term “dear brothers and sisters” indicates that he believed them to be as beloved as family members would be. The original Koine Greek uses the word ἀδελφός (adelphos) which means brethren, but the early church also valued the women of the Christian community as well. Translations such as the NIV quoted here use the term “brothers and sisters” indicates place of ἀδελφός.
Next, Paul tells the church to “stand firm. Let nothing move you”, but he doesn’t elaborate on what they are to “stand firm” in. Looking at these words in the greater context of 1 Corinthians, Paul is encouraging his brothers and sisters in Christ to stay firm in their faith, resisting all external pressures and false teachings. Corinth was a fairly wild city at the time, culturally, philosophically, and morally. There were many existing pagan belief systems in place, so Paul’s words act as a reminder to stay the course with their Christian faith despite outside pressures and persecution. And how can they demonstrate that they are standing firm in their faith?
“Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord”
In telling the church members to “give yourself fully” to God’s work, Paul is pushing them to go beyond the minimum and to strive for a live of excellence in service and ministry to others. The Bible repeatedly delivers the message of loving (and serving) God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” as found in Deuteronomy 6:5. Work of the Lord can be almost anything — ministry, evangelism, missionary work, prayer — any act of love and service both inside and outside of the church community.
That’s why it grieves me so much to see so many people who are “takers”. They proudly call themselves Christians, but their sole commitment to God is to attend church when they feel like it. They give little of their love, time, talent, or treasure, and never seem to be doing anything but asking their church community and God to do something for them!
Paul gives a very good reason to “give yourself fully to the work of the Lord”:
you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
What does that mean? He’s reassuring the church of Corinth that their earthy labor in the work of the Lord has implications for eternal life! Paul’s use of “you know” shows a certainty of faith and the promise of an eternal reward.
Pastor Ray Stedman delivered a wonderful sermon in 1979 in which he touched on Paul’s message about giving “yourself fully to the work of the Lord.”:
When you go back to your work do not see it as simply a way by which you earn your living.It has been given to you as an opportunity for you to have a ministry in which you witness, you demonstrate a changed life, a heart at peace, the radiant joy of fellowship with a living Lord on your face, and love pouring out of your heart to those who, like you, have struggled and lost frequently in the rat race of life (See Mt 5:14, 15, 5:16+). That is what God sends us out to do as Christians. He has given us a work, not that we might make notable achievements which men applaud, and in which we make a name for ourselves. What God looks for is how are we behaving towards others? How do we show a loving spirit, a gracious, forgiving attitude, a willingness to return good for evil, an ability to speak a word of release to those who are prisoners of their own habits, to set free those who are oppressed by wrong, hateful attitudes, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to open the eyes of the blind? That is the work of the Lord. That is why God gives us contact with others. That is why God has given us our work.1
We don’t get to our eternal reward on the basis of our works, but on faith alone. Note that the verse says “the work of the Lord”, NOT “working for the Lord”. All of the things we do should be for His work, His honor, and His glory. We aren’t adequate in ourselves to do “the work of the Lord”; our adequacy comes from Him through His enabling spirit.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, Thank You for the glorious and eternal future You have in store for all who trust in Christ as our God and Savior. May my trust in Your Word grow each day, and I ask you for your guiding hand in standing firm in my faith and my commitment to Your work. Help me to be a productive worker for You in my lifetime, so that I fulfill Your will and Your work. Thank You for the eternal truth of the Resurrection, and keep helping me to remain steadfast in the work that You have prepared for me to do, all to your praise and glory. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on July 12, 2025 for commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Precept Austin was accessed on July 12, 2025 for commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:58
Excerpted with permission from The Victory of the Mystery, Copyright 1979 by Ray Stedman Ministries. All rights reserved. Visit RayStedman.org for the complete library of Ray Stedman material. Please direct any questions to webmaster@RayStedman.org.