Steadfast and immovable

I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 

Therefore?  Therefore what?  The word “therefore” transitions what was previously written into a logical conclusion or consequence.  What Paul had just written was the fact that believers will not die forever and do not have to fear death because they believe in Jesus Christ and the fact that He defeated the sting and fear and power of death.  Because of this fact, this wonderful fact that all believers should (must) claim, you, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, should be steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

To be steadfast and immovable are two words essentially describing the same manifestation in the life of a believer.  You are to hold fast, stand firm and be secure in your faith.  In Isaiah 26:3, the steadfast in mind shall have perfect peace because of his trust in God.  In Acts 2:42, the earliest Christians continued steadfastly in learning about God, fellowshipping with other believers, praying and eating together.  In Hebrews 10:23, believers are urged to hold fast in their faith without any wavering.  The word “steadfast” is linked to “faith” in several other verses (Matthew 7:24-25, I Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 6:1, Colossians 2:5, II Thessalonians 2;15, Hebrews 3:14, James 1:6-8).  One interesting verse about being immovable is found in Psalm 55:22 where you are to cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (see also Psalm 16:8) 

To be abounding in the work of the Lord, what does this mean?  The Greek word for abound (perisseuo) means to be in excess, to be in abundance, to overflow.  The work of the Lord means whatever He created you to do, to be fulfilling your purpose in life, to follow all of His comments, to be fully committed to His will for you.  So you are to abound in Christian service.  You might retire from your job and from your career, but as long as you live, you must never retire from Christian service.  You are to abound in Christian love (read I Thessalonians 3:12-13) with your love for others being the unselfish, self-sacrificial “agape” love.

A lot to consider and to learn from this one verse.  How steadfast and immovable are you in your faith?  How abounding are you in your work for the Lord?  Someday you will give an account of your life before almighty God and these two questions seem reasonable to be asked of you.  Are you prepared to answer and have no regrets in your answer? 

Besides the commands in this verse, there is also a promise.  No matter what you do for the Lord, especially if it is service that no one else knows about, He knows and will reward you someday.  Make it your goal in life that when you face the Lord in heaven, He will look at you and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23, Luke 19:17).  Perhaps you know deep in your heart that He cannot say this to you now, but you can resolve with all of your heart to be begin right now to be obedient to this verse, to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that His promise to you is that whatever you do for Him will not be in vain and you will blessed forever.