Labor In Vain

1 Thessalonians 2:9remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God (KJV).

Our December birthday teens were soundly sleeping when I jumped on their beds in the middle of the night screaming, “Sixteen years ago today, you woke me up to labor in the middle of the night and now it’s my turn!” You wouldn’t believe how unappreciated I was for the next few hours! (And not one bit of thanks for giving them birth!) My new habit may have been one of the reasons they eventually married and left home!

Do we appreciative the hours of labor that others put in on our behalf? Paul was very careful not to burden the folks to whom he preached. He presented the Good News of Christ, but often with little thanks. Someone today is singing a carol, whispering a prayer on our behalf, delivering our mail, checking out our groceries, or even babysitting children on our behalf. Have we said thanks lately?

Philippians 4:10a-How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are helping me again (LB).

Prayer: Lord, help us to recognize the kindness of others. Help us to appreciate it, both by word and by deed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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