While the Bible is clear about not being saved by meritorious works, it does teach that works of faith are necessary.  James wrote, “…faith apart from works is useless” (James 2:20).

You cannot sit on the sidelines of Christianity and think that you are contributing to the team (the church).  To play a useful role for the cause of Christ, you have to run the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV)
²⁴  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

How are you running the race?  Are you an active member of the Lord’s church who is alive and participating, or one who is spiritually slothful, always waiting for someone else to do the work that needs to be done?  The kingdom of God needs more workers.  

Luke 10:2 (ESV)
²  And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

As Paul once said, “now is the favorable time.”  Do not procrastinate.  Make up your mind right now that you are going to be active in the work of Christ, and be a participating member of the local church to which you belong.  The time to work is now.

John 9:4 (ESV)
⁴  We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

The night is coming upon us all.  We all know how quickly life goes by, don’t we?  James called life a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14).  Work as much, and as hard, as you can while you have the opportunity.  Wasted time leads to feelings of regret at the end of an unfulfilled life.  Paul tells us how to avoid such an end.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
⁵⁸  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

God does not give us work that is too hard for us to do.  He does not demand that we move mountains.  He just wants us to use the talents with which He has blessed us.  Jesus tried to get us to see this in the parable of the talents.  The man that was given one talent refused to use it.  One reason he did not use it was that he was lazy, and his master condemned him for it, calling him a wicked and slothful servant (Matthew 25:26).  What became of this lazy servant who failed to gain more talents for his master?  Listen to it:

Matthew 25:30 (ESV)
³⁰  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The point is clear—spiritual slothfulness will lead to the condemnation of our souls.  Be active! 

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