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Where Does Hard Work Get Us?

Sometimes Christianity can get a cushy, selfish reputation. But that reputation doesn’t know Jesus’ work on the cross, and it doesn’t know the Apostle Paul. 

Everything Paul did was all-in. He came up through a rigorous early life of studying law and religion. So much, that he’d hold his own with Greek philosophers, Jewish leaders, and government authorities. Paul became hateful of Christians whose Jesus seemed to threaten everything he’d studied and worked for. Before turning to Christ, Paul was infamous for his drive to capture, punish, and even kill Christians. 

After Paul turned to Christ, he didn’t lose one bit of tenacity. Instead of traveling to cities full of Christians to bring death, he traveled to cities with no Christians, to bring life. Instead of putting Christians in prison for their faith, he went to prison for his, then wrote much of the New Testament there. When authorities questioned him, he answered with the Gospel. When he was beaten down, he’d stand up for truth. When he was shipwrecked, snake-bitten, and tired, he’d pray harder, work harder, and rely on God’s grace like he had no other choice. Because he knew he had no other choice. 

You have career dreams, relationship hopes, and financial plans that you’ve run after with determination. Maybe you’re sacrificing more than anyone knows to overcome an addiction, serve your family, give to your community, or grow the Church. Like Paul, you know hard work.

Still, there’s something about hard work we can learn from Paul, and it’s not just that we should be doing it. Here are three lessons Paul’s life teaches.

1. Hard work isn’t just how we get somewhere great tomorrow. Hard work, poured out to God, is something great today. Worship.

2. Paul knew he worked harder than many, but he also knew he wasn’t greater than any. 

3. We don’t work hard to get grace, we work hard because we got it. 

Where does hard work get us? Without Christ, it’s not much more than a difficult way to reach the end. With Christ, hard work itself can be a gift. It’s a reminder of His grace in our lives, and it’s our very best lived out as a worship offering back to Him. 

Which of Paul’s lessons do you need most?

Pray: God, teach me to see the moment-by-moment gift of pressing on with faith by Your grace.