2 John 1:8 (ESV)
⁸ Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

Are you working for the Lord? We should pay attention to, not only the kind of work we are doing, but the amount of work we are doing as well. I am not devaluing the importance of doing the right work for everything we do must be done in the name of Jesus Christ, that is, by His authority (Colossians 3:17): but, in this blog, I want us to just think about the importance of working for the Lord.

It is easy to fall into a state of idleness when it comes to the work of God. This may not be due to laziness, but just because we get preoccupied with the works of this world. That work may be related to our earthly occupations, families, recreational endeavors, or a combination of all of those things, as well as others. These things are not bad in themselves, but we must be careful that we do not allow them to consume us, leaving us with no time for the Lord. To avoid that, we must be watchful, making sure that the work of the Lord takes precedence over the things of this world.

Do you keep yourself busy doing the work of the Lord? This mostly has to do with being an active member of a local church. Working for the Lord means attending the assemblies of the saints (Hebrews 10:25), at which time you engage in the important work of worshiping God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). It further involves using your talents to help your local church grow and reach its full potential. Paul spoke of this when he wrote to the church at Rome.

Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Keep in mind that Paul wrote this during the period of miraculous gifts, thus, most of the gifts he spoke of were likely miraculous; however, the principle of using our natural gifts for the Lord would be just as applicable. The point is we must be as active as we can be in the Lord, using our talents for His glorification (Matthew 25:14-30).

Visiting the sick is a work we can all do. Praying consistently is an important work in which we can all engage. Sending cards to the discouraged is a fruitful work. Attempting to reach those who have fallen away is always a worthwhile endeavor. Spreading the Word whenever we can is perhaps the most important work we can do, and we can all do it. If you know what you did to become a Christian, you can tell others what they have to do. Does your local church have personal work groups? If so, be a part of that. Support gospel meetings when they come around. All of these things are works that we can and should be doing.

Keep a watch on your work. Make sure that you are active, not idle in the Lord. According to Jesus, at the appropriate time, we will rest from our labors, and our works will follow us (Rev. 14:13).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things