Last Friday night was the HSLDA co-laborers’ (employees’) Christmas banquet.  It was a wonderful evening.  The food was fabulous, the company even better.  And the word was just what I needed to hear.  Mike Smith spoke for a few minutes, from 1 Corinthians 15:58.

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

He talked a little bit about the first part of the verse: steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, but much of his emphasis was on the second half.  Our labor is not in vain in the Lord.  He pointed out that this is true even when the results are not what we had hoped for.  We do the work; God produces the results.  And whatever results He chooses to produce from that work, the work is not in vain.

Not in Vain at Home, Either!

I’m well aware of this in other areas.  It’s what our family points out all the time regarding our votes:  we aren’t responsible for the outcome of the election, we’re only responsible for supporting a candidate worthy of support.  The outcome of the election is God’s.

But I’m generally not very aware of this same concept at work in my home life.  I feel like a failure because I’m not seeing any results in my children.

But, when it really comes down to it, that isn’t the real measure of my success, because I’m not responsible for results.  I’m responsible for faithful obedience — in myself!  If I’m doing it, it’s not in vain.  Even if I don’t see the results I think I should expect.  That part is God’s problem.

So for myself, I need concentrate on being steadfast and immovable.  (Always abounding in the work of the Lord is part of that list, too, but I think it follows somewhat naturally from those first two things.)