Are You A Worker For The Lord?

Several years ago, an older brother in Christ told me that when it comes to workers in the church there are two kinds of members: those who work and those who let them. In many congregations, the preacher is the one expected to do all the work. While it is true that the preacher often has more of an opportunity to visit the hospital and other such works that are best done during daytime hours, it is not the case that the Lord expects him to be the sole worker in the local church. All of us have a work to fulfill in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-26). Let us consider the following questions to determine whether or not we are workers for the Lord.

Are You A Christian?

The only way people are made true, New Testament Christians is by obeying the Gospel, which entails having faith based on the word of God (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6), believing that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn. 8:24), repenting of sins (Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30-31), confessing our faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 cf. Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:16), by which the Lord adds us to His church (Acts 2:47), which is His one and only body (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4). Have we obeyed the Gospel as outlined above? If so, we are Christians. As Christians, we have committed ourselves to serve God (Rom. 8:12-14; 1 Cor. 6:19-20). It is impossible to serve God without doing what He says (Lk. 6:46). Part of what God instructs is that we are to be workers for Him (Eph. 2:8-10; Jas. 2:14-26). If we are not workers, yet claim to be Christians, we need to consider the next question.

Are You Faithful?

Jesus once asked, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant?” (Mt. 24:45). The answer was simple, yet profound: “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Mt. 24:46). The context of these verses is Jesus’ teaching that no one knows when His coming and the end of the world will be (Mt. 24:36-41). Being ready for the Second Coming does not entail counting days or seeing the “signs of the times.” The only way to be ready is by doing God’s will. Faithfulness is key not only to being ready for the Second Coming, but faithfulness is also key to our waiting for Christ’s return (Rom. 8:19-25; Gal. 5:5; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 1:10; Heb. 9:28). Since we do not know when He is coming again (Mk. 13:32), we need to stay ready, by being faithful now, so that we do not have to worry about getting ready! Being ready now involves, among other things, being workers in the church. If we are not workers for the Lord now, how can we say we are faithful? If we are not faithful, the next question must be seriously considered.

Are You Expecting Heaven As Your Home?

Heaven is a prepared place for a certain kind of people (Jn. 14:1-3). Heaven is a blissful reward of rest in the eternal presence of God for the faithful of all ages (Rev. 21:1-4). Heaven is a place that we do not want to miss. Yet, everyone will not inherit heaven as his home (cf. Mt. 7:13-14). Since the time the church was established in Acts 2, we know that no accountable person will ever inherit heaven who did not obey the Gospel and become a true Christian (2 Thes. 1:8). However, there will even be some Christians who will not inherit heaven because they did not keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). Working for the Lord must be a lifelong vocation if we are to expect heaven as our eternal home. Consider the parable of the talents. Which servant was deemed “wicked and slothful” and was cast into “outer darkness”? The one who buried his talent (Mt. 25:24-30)! Which group on Judgment Day will be lost? The ones who did not do what the Lord expected (Mt. 25:31-46).

There is a work that all of us can do to make this congregation stronger. Are you a Christian? Are you faithful? Then, you must be a worker!