How To Receive Fruit From Your Labor

The husbandman that laboureth must be

first partaker of the fruits. Consider what

I say; and the Lord give the understanding

in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ

of the seed of David was raised from 

the dead according to my gospel;

wherein I suffer trouble, as in evildoer,

even unto bonds; but the word of God

is not bound. Therefore I endure all 

things for the elect's sakes, that they

may also obtain the salvation which is in

Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

2Timothy 2:6-10

      The precedent that must be considered is: A laborer must labor before he is allowed to take of the fruits. Sounds simple but is often a rule that is not followed and may so-called pastors receive way above what they have labored for for God will not reward any pastors because they are pastors, no, God will reward the laborer, although many people advance a pastor even though they misuse their office of leadership and pastor office.  You may have heard of, and I have investigated those famous and prominent pastors and have found that they are very rich, in the millions, and it is not that they are rich that is all the problem, it is the money they receive is money given by others so that the pastor can labor to bring the truth to a lost and dying world. More often this idle, in the sense of not laboring correctly, are proud and show it be buying mansions, expensive products, preaching prosperity is a gift of God that all can reach for and receive. God gives gifts, no doubt, but the gifts that God gives is not for a person to just prosper, for the gift of knowledge and ability is to be used for family, and for other Christians and to extend to the world wherever it is possible. 

     All ministers must be faithful and advance the kingdom of God, not their pocketbook, not teaching and preaching a gospel that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul instructs Timothy to not deliver anything other than what he had taught to Timothy, and what did Timothy receive? The Gospel that Jesus Christ was of the seed of David making Jesus in line with David and all those whom God had used from the line of Judah, God's elected people to lead His people. Furthermore, Paul reminds Timothy and us, that Jesus died and rose from the grave and from this resurrection then the debt owed to God was satisfied and by this satisfaction God through Jesus Christ would call and enable people to be of the bride of Jesus Christ and have their sins absolved. This is the Gospel, not some preaching that tickles the ears and teaches that success and prosperity are signs that a person is in favor with God. No, Paul was in bonds, and this was a different bonding as a prisoner this time for no longer was Paul attached to a guard, no, Paul was in chains, bound to prison and awaiting the swing of the sword that would behead him. We, do not have to have such imprisonment, but we are to follow this example that nothing can separate us from the love of God so that when we are hounded by hateful and deceitful people, persecuted in some way because of our faithfulness to Jesus Christ, we can stand the heat, stand for the truth, knowing that by the resurrection of Jesus Christ we too will rise again to be with Him eternally. 

     You, as an Authentic Christian having Authentic Christian Faith are soldiers for the Gospel and we must not allow ourselves to become entangled in the affairs of this world. We have no need to drive for prosperity as though this is God's blessing. If God allows you to be successful it is so that you can use your success to further the Gospel. Why else would God allow this? Why are you on the earth if you are going to heaven when you die? Why did not God, since heaven is where you are going, take you immediately to heaven when you converted to Jesus Christ?  God has not left you here to strive for temporary things, no, God has allowed you to be left here in this evil world to bring to this evil world the Gospel. We do not know who the elect are, so, we take the Gospel to the world knowing that by the Gospel God's elect hears it, and responds to the Gospel. We are still being bombarded by the lusts and corruptions that attack our faith, our ability to stand firm for the truth, but we have no reason to fail for the Holy Spirit resides in all of God's children and speaks to our souls, to our thinking, and reminding us of what God has spoken through His word. It is like a computer, our minds, what goes in comes out, in other words, garbage in, garbage out, the truth in the truth out. We must exercise our faith and by this exercising our faith grows, just like our muscles grow when we exercise them and by this labor we too are able to receive the fruits of our labor. The fruits are not just for those in leadership, fruits are for the laborer. Be a laborer! What fruit will you receive by you faithful labor? Eternal life! Yes, it is already there but as written: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall" (2Peter 1:10).

     Today, make out your agenda for the day and be sure to include how, when, and where you will labor for the Gospel. We are to become the image of Jesus Christ and He took the Gospel to everyone, everywhere He went, so as an image of Jesus Christ we are to imitate Him. This is a privilege that God would us us, a sinner, saved, by Him, to take the truth about Him to the world. It is a privilege to see people change the course of their evil lives to become living children of God. This blessing cannot be measured, for God is bringing home all of His children, and we have this blessing to be part of His work. 

So I was great, and increased more than

    all that were before me in Jerusalem:

also my wisdom remained with me.

     And whatsoever mine eyes desired I 

kept not from them, I withheld not my 

    heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced

in all my labour: and this was my portion

    of all my labor. 

Then I looked on all the works that my hands

    had wrought, and on the labour that I had 

laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity 

    and vexation of spirit, and there was no

profit under the sun.

                Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

Labor for the Gospel

Richard L. Crumb