15:58 Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Technically love involves work. Jesus told a story about the
difference between a shepherd and a hireling. A shepherd loves his sheep. When
a wolf or lion comes to attack one of his sheep he risks his safety and even
his life to protect that lamb. A hireling is with the sheep to make money. He
doesn't care about the sheep. If it comes down to a choice between saving a
lamb or saving himself the hireling will flee every time. I mean what is the
point of working for money if you're dead?
The shepherd makes a living too. There is a monetary benefit
to what he does but that's not even part of the equation when a lamb is being
attacked. He defends it because he loves his sheep.
So the one who loves works more and risks more. Technically
love is work but that thought never crossed the mind of the shepherd when he's
fighting off the wolf and neither is his reward the monetary value of the
rescued lamb. His reward is to hold it safe in his arms when the struggle is
ended.
One day the disciples started listing off all the things they
had done and/or given up for Jesus and flat out demanded to know what the payout/reward
was going to be for them. What would be the return on their investment? See at
that point in their relationship with Jesus it was a lot about reward and
little about love. After the cross the disciples really let go of everything
including their own safety and freedom yet there was never any more talk about
payback.
Technically love is work yet love never submits a bill. Will
there be a reward? Sure but it won't be measured in gold or silver. The
greatest reward I could hear from Jesus is "Well done..." but what
I'm looking forward to the most is standing off to the side watching others
meet Jesus face to face for the first time. Moses was a true shepherd of the
people and he offered to miss out on the rewards of heaven if it would benefit
others. That's love.
Technically love is work but no one punches the clock.
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