LABOR IN VAIN
TEXT: Psa. 127: 1; I Thes. 3-5
Daughters T-shirt: I see your lips moving but all I hear is Blah, Blah, Blah.
I. CAIN BUILT HIS ALTAR ALL IN VAIN (Gen. 4:3-5) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
When we substitute our plan for Gods plan, we fail. Heb. 9:11-12 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
II. THE MEN OF BABEL LABORED IN VAIN (Gen. 11:1-9) Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Building for God must be under Gods direction. Matt. 16: 16-18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
III. THE RICH FARMER BUILT ALL IN VAIN Luke 12:15-21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
When riches come there is a temptation to forget God Psa. 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Prov 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
IV. WE LABOR IN VAIN WHEN BUILDING UPON A FALSE FOUNDATION I Cor. 3: 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The foundation is the most important part of the building. Acts 4: 10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
V. WE LABOR IN VAIN WHEN WE FOLLOW FALSE TEACHERS Mat. 15:9, 13-14 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Those who do not know the truth cannot lead others. Acts 17: 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 18:25 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man". It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a federal holiday by Act of Congress in 1894.
