“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be … always abounding in the work of the Lord…” – 1 Cor. 15:58

A few weeks ago I was part of a discussion among pastors that got more heated than any of us expected.

Someone raised the story of Joshua serving Moses, and Elisha pouring water on the hands of Elijah, and drew a conclusion from it: that the ordinary believer in a local church exists, in some real sense, to serve the pastor.

Serve the man of God, the reasoning went, and you have served God.

I was one of those who pushed back. Not because serving a pastor is wrong — Joshua and Elisha did it faithfully, and there is honor in it.

But because that logic, followed far enough, quietly relocates the object of our devotion. It puts a man where only God belongs.

Jesus told the tempter, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”

Indeed, we’ve watched what happens to people who serve a leader, a ministry, a reputation, or a routine long enough that they forget who they were actually labouring for in the first place.

They burn out. They grow bitter with disillusionment when they aren’t appreciated in the manner they expected.

Paul had already settled this question centuries before that heated discussion.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Abounding is our key word today.

The Greek behind “abounding” doesn’t mean checking a box on your to-do list for God.

It’s the language of a cup filled past its rim, running over the sides onto the table.

Ask yourself honestly this week: is there a gift, a calling, a kindness you’ve been rationing because you weren’t sure anyone would notice?

The Amplified Version of that verse reads: “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed].”

In other words, The Bible isn’t asking the Corinthians to do just enough – what is expected of them.

It is describing a life that spills over from overflow.

We do not abound in service to earn God’s favor, nor do we exhaust ourselves out of anxious duty.

Paul reminds us that our service is “the work of the Lord”.

We do not serve for the approval of leaders, the applause of our supervisors, or the pursuit of earthly idols like status, money, or comfort.

Well, none of us needs reminding that serving human expectations leads to burnout and disappointment.

Serving the living God grounds us in unwavering purpose, that rings to eternity.

So, as a Christian employee, manager or business owner, where have you been giving God the bare minimum?

Where have you allowed cynicism or fatigue to convince you to hold back or let go all together?

For us today, ‘abounding’ means the exhausted Christian medical doctor patiently attending to her patients long after her official working hours.

It’s the youth leader who shows up early to help set up chairs and carry the equipment.

Let the resurrection reality disrupt your routine, dear brother/sister.

Look actively for opportunities to help out on yet another service team at church or extend mercy to yet another needy child.

Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your duty into a joyful overflow of love and generosity.

Ask yourself honestly this week: is there a gift, a calling, a kindness you’ve been rationing because you weren’t sure anyone would notice?

Let it overflow anyway.

Serve like a cup that has stopped worrying about being seen, and started overflowing simply because it keeps on receiving from above.