How to Labor in Vain

When we sin and reject God’s counsel, he allows us to eat the fruit of our own way. Often he will bring about the exact scenario that we fear in a kind of poetic justice. We do well to remember the warning in Psalm 127: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain…” Psalm 127:1

In Genesis 11 we see humanity confronting its fear of mortality with great works of achievement — the tower of Babel:

“[4] And they said one to another, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” — Genesis 11:4

The context of Genesis 11 and the they speaking in this verse are the descendants of Noah’s three sons who have been multiplying in the land of Shinar. They see that they have strength in numbers and fear being scattered and tossed around again. They are not satisfied to dwell in tents like their fathers, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They want a city like what Cain built for his son in Genesis 4:17, and a tower that reaches to heaven itself, not a little altar made of uncut stones as Noah taught them.

The Tower of Babel — Bruegel the Elder, Public Domain Image

The Lord saw this and sure enough said, “[7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. [8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. [9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” — Genesis 11

This story should remind us that works never have and never will get us to heaven. Heaven is only obtained by God’s grace and mercy, never by our works — not in any dispensation.

Paul’s description of the Jews’ error could just as accurately describe the generation behind the tower of Babel: “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3-4).”

The tower of Babel is a story of rebellion and stubborn pride. God will bring every work stemming from our corrupt nature to nothing.

Selah.

Gold, Silver, Precious Stones

There is a false teaching prevalent among Fundamental Baptists based on 1st Corinthians chapter 3, saying that we do not work for salvation, but we work for better rewards at the judgement seat of Christ.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” — 1st Corinthians 3:12-13

Photo by Zlataky on Unsplash

On a superficial level this argument almost makes sense. Throughout the Bible we are exhorted to remember that when Christ returns he will judge our works, whether we are saved or lost. Here are just a few examples:

“For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” — Matthew 16:27

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of Man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” — Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” — Revelation

So if, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us,” as Psalm 103:12 says, then surely we are only looking forward to more or less gold, silver, and precious stones at the judgement seat of Christ since Christ has paid off all of our sin debt as believers.

Friends, take heed that no man deceive you. “The natural man receiveth now the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him….” — 1st Corinthians 2:14. The idea that we earn rewards proportional to our good works performed in this life after salvation is logical, natural, and ultimately carnal and therefore wrong. The natural man looks at the parable of the day laborers in Matthew 20 and sees the Lord paying three different men the exact same wage despite one working all day, one working for half a day, and one working for an hour, and thinks that is utter foolishness. To which God says, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” (—Matthew 20:15).

This is why it is so important to read verses in their entire context before creating an entire doctrine. Interestingly, the same verses that Baptists use as a proof text for their rewards in the afterlife are the same verses Roman Catholics use to justify their belief in Purgatory. But when you read 1st Corinthians chapter 3 in its entirety you will see that those verses cannot possibly prove either of those doctrines.

The context of 1st Corinthians chapter 3 is Paul specifically addressing an argument within the Corinthian church. Some were arguing that Paul was the superior minister and they were “Paulitians”, while others swore that Apollos was more righteous and they were “Appolonians.” Paul dismisses this folly.

“For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” — 1st Corinthians 3:4-6

If anyone deserves more gold and silver at the judgement seat by normal standards it would be Paul, but he never quibbles over how much God owes him for his labor. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished by course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” — 2nd Timothy 4:7-8

Paul is saying that it is a righteous thing for God to give the exact same crown of glory to him, who was beaten and persecuted and lived in constant jeopardy and wrote the bulk of the New Testament, as to any other believer who keeps the faith.

Returning to 1st Corinthians 3 with these facts in mind, let us dispel these Jesuit fables once and for all. “Now he that planteth [Paul] and he that watereth [Apollos] are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1st Corinthians 3:8. Paul and Apollos are both employed by the ministry. Paul is an evangelist and Apollos appears to be a pastor. When they feed the flock they are entitled to compensation for their work in the ministry. The reward is for the laborer here on earth, not some reward God owes them in the afterlife.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 9-11

Photo by Biel Morro

The foundation being laid is the gospel of Jesus Christ which Paul or any other disciple or preacher can preach. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 tells us how different people respond to the gospel. The parables tell us that many are called, few are chosen. Only the fire reveals who is truly converted. “Ye are God’s building,” Christ is called the “chief corner stone”(1st Peter 2:6), and we believers are “lively stones” (1st Peter 2:5) in his temple. The gold, silver, and precious stones are not our wages in heaven, we are the stones. But if we are wood, hay, and stubble, we were dull hearers of the gospel and false converts, who will be shocked to discover that Christ never knew us (Matthew 7:23).

While the Lord does not distribute gifts to us equally, he expects all of us to produce a return on what he has invested in us. He did not pay for our souls with his Son’s precious blood so that we could return to surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this world. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” — Luke 17:10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Photo by Christopher Cambell on Unsplash

Do not fret about your labors for the Lord. If God has ordained for us to do something, he will also provide the means for us to achieve it. When Moses balked and his instructions to deliver a message to Pharoah the Lord said, “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” — Exodus 4:11-12

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:4-5

Since you cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit, and you did not receive the Spirit by works of the flesh, neither can you earn better or worse rewards at the judgement seat of Christ through works of the flesh.

Photo by Jose Alfonso Sierra

“Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh?” —Galatians 3:3

Titus 3:8 says that we should be careful to maintain good works because it is profitable unto men, and Hebrews 13:16 says God is pleased when we remember to do good and communicate, but we should not think that this means God ever owes us anything. Both purgatory and rewards at the judgement seat are false teachings from men of corrupt minds.

“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1st Corinthians 1:31).”

Amen.

The Comfort in Forgetting

[19] Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

[20] For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

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“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” - Isaiah 54:4

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” - Isaiah 65:17

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“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” -Revelation 21:4

Photo by Diana Serbichenko on Unsplash

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18

Selah.