JANUARY 2024
ARE YOU CO- LABOURING WITH THE LORD OR LABOURING IN VAIN?
Are there areas of our lives where, over the years, we have been labouring on our own rather than entering into the Lord’s labour? Any labour of ours that does not have God at the centre is referred to in the Bible as labour in vain.
The Psalmist points this out to us in Psalm 127 v 1-2. Verse one points out to us that it’s vain, if God is not building with us because we won’t achieve the desired effect. It’s vain if we are trying to be watchmen to keep the city because we can’t achieve this on our own. All the hard work we may try to put into things, if we haven’t involved God, it may end up as being in vain, as we won’t achieve our desired result. This is a good place to provide a definition of ‘vain’. It implies doing something without success or without the desired result. It can be described as being useless, fruitless, or having no real value.
So how is the Psalmist recommending we do life this new year 2024? How successful have we been so far in always being at the helm of our affairs, or is there a better way? Has the effort we have been putting in all these years, been so much that it’s not sustainable? Has it been injurious to our health? How do we begin to understand an alternative way?
What is being recommended is Co-labouring with the Lord. You may be wondering what ‘co-labouring' means. The Webster revised unabridged dictionary explains Co-labouring as “one who labours with another”. This implies working together for the same purpose, or being united in the same purpose. We see this worked out throughout the entire Bible. If we are to rule and reign with God, we have to Co-labour with the Trinity.
Co-labouring with the Trinity, recognises the fact that we have an All-knowing God who can do everything on His own. He however chooses to have our involvement. He knows the end from the beginning and everything else, so when we acknowledge His vastly superior brain over ours, we can lean completely on Him, do the little while He does the rest, and revel in His pleasure at working with us. His covenant with us makes Him committed to have us serve alongside Him.
We see this worked out right from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2 v 19-20, we read that out of the ground, God formed every wild beast and living creature of the field and bird of the air, and then He brought them to Adam to name them. It must have been such fun for Adam and also great pleasure for God, watching Adam come up with names. Names are very important as they capture some sense of identity and character, so what a wonderful role Adam took part in.
Co-labouring also requires some level of trust from both sides, and goes on to develop a loving relationship as we do so. There is also a great sense of adventure and unity of heart and purpose.
Other examples include Gideon, Daniel, Joseph, David, Paul, Peter to mention a few. This also was the way Jesus modelled doing life on earth with His Father.
Learning to co-labour this year requires that, we know how to hear His voice and speak to Him. We need to be in an intimate relationship with God our Father, Jesus our Bridegroom and the Holy Spirit our best friend.
Samuel required God to show him which son to anoint to be the King of Israel. Remember how God refused all the sons who were present until they brought David from the field. This was co-labouring with God for His higher purposes. If Samuel had chosen one of the other brothers on his own, it would have been a disastrous outcome.
Over the years, you can see the mighty exploits of those who have chosen to co-labour with the Lord. The year 2024, is said to be a year of open doors. If we desire to prosper in all God our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have prepared for us, we need to learn to lean into them and enter into their labour. We need to be prepared to have the GodHead usher us in through the doors and be totally yielded to their purposes so that They can accomplish great and mighty works through us. Our hearts’ desire should be to bring glory to God, just as Jesus did (John 17v 1).
Co-labouring is fun as it releases us of a lot of pressure. We can rely on the All-wise God. May this new year 2024, cause us to spend more time in the Presence, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
