LABOR OF LOVE – PART ONE
Monday – November 6, 2017
Am I laboring in the Kingdom of God in love? As each of us ponder this question let us go ahead and review our text for our Bible Study from the wonderful Holy Scripture of the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:9-12 (KJV)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
As you no doubt have guessed today I am going to focus on the tenth verse and the phrase “labour of love”. The verse starts with the writer reciting a characteristic or character trait of God. This character trait of God is that He does not forget the work we do for the Kingdom at His direction. For Him to forget would be unrighteousness. Next we are reminded that our labors of love are done in the name of Jesus or as the text says “toward his name”. The writer goes on to say that the specific labor of love being addressed was ministry to the saints which is not past tense but ongoing.
I frequently bring up the meaning of Bible love (agape transliterated to English from the Greek) which is far different from the world and unfortunately the Church. Understanding Bible love is not just to help us with Bible interpretation and understanding but for the conduct of our lives. Bible (agape) love at its core is obedience to the Word of God, however there are two other aspects which I believe are critical to understand and practice as well. One is to be mindful that when we were baptized into Christ Jesus and proclaimed Him as Lord and Savior we became participants in The Blood Covenant and every promise of God became our present reality. The other aspect and the one I will address today is that true love, Bible love, Gods love or the Love of God (which is our love) reflects selflessness. If we are honest I think many of us can admit if only to ourselves and God that it is hard to get ourselves out of any equation. Now let us turn our attention to what is commonly referred to as the “love chapter” of Scripture as our secondary text.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (KJV)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Please do not be thrown off by the use of the English word “charity” in our text. This is the same word translated as “love” in other places and is from the Greek word transliterated as “agape”. Charity is not an altogether bad word to use in place of love for charity generally conveys the meaning of giving to another with no expectation of something in return from the recipient. Looking to verse one above the Apostle Paul tells us that we can speak eloquently in our native language and we can speak in tongues unknown to us but uncoupled from love it is just a racket in the ears of God and does nothing to further the Kingdom of God. Good works even when done with the best of intentions uncoupled from love are as wood, hay, and straw (stubble in the KJV). At the judgment seat of Christ, they will be as nothing. In fact, worse than nothing because while doing those things we were not doing what God wanted done.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (GW)
12 People may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw.
13 The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. That fire will determine what kind of work each person has done.
14 If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If his work is burned up, he will suffer {the loss}. However, he will be saved, though it will be like going through a fire.
The fire is the Holy Spirit, the One who in the end determines the quality, the purity of our works. Paul goes on to say that we can manifest what appear to be wonderful gifts of God but without love they are nothing in the Kingdom of God, more wood, hay, and stubble. With this in mind let me remind us of a couple of Scriptures.
Matthew 7:22 (KJV)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Romans 11:29 (KJV)
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
There is much to say about the preceding two Scriptures, however, I believe you can see their relevance in the context of today’s teaching. The Apostle Paul goes on to say that we can give everything away (not the will of God) and we can be a Martyr for the Kingdom (also not the will of God) and it will profit us nothing in the end. We may get great accolades from the world and the Church but it is more wood, hay, and straw, all burned in the Fire, no reward but loss. As I close remember that Bible love (agape) is the fuel or the strength of faith, poor fuel poor faith. If our faith is going to avail anything for the Kingdom, gold, silver, precious stones, the love must be pure.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (GW)
24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.
25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.
26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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