Theology of useful/useless

April 6, 2021 (Tuesday)

 

At my Mom’s funeral, statistics were read that left my Dad crying. He sat and said, “I never knew that.” Paul encouraged us, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” [1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT]

 

Many years ago I began to formulate a theology of “useful.” As followers of Jesus, the effect of our lives is useful to others and the kingdom of God. Having watched my Dad despair over what he imagined was a lack of impact got me thinking. What Paul is saying is not really a promise. It is a statement of fact. A promise is something hoped for in the future. Promises are very powerful. However, a simple statement of fact changes everything.

 

How can Paul make such a statement of fact? It is because of the facts that he points out earlier. Let’s follow the “bouncing ball.” Fact one: “This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s kingdom. Something that rots can’t inherit something that doesn’t decay.” [1 Corinthians 15:50 CEB] We live in a diseased, dying, and decaying world. If you want it, you can have it. Personally, why would anyone want something that is rotting over something that will never rot?

 

Fact two: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!” [1 Corinthians 15:51 NLT] Some think this refers to a “rapture” when Christians will be physically removed from this world. It’s plausible. Another way to look at this involves a mystery beyond human understanding. What if we saw the passing of a loved one, not as death, but as transformation?

 

Fact three: “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” [1 Corinthians 15:52 – 53 NLT] Back to the idea of a “rapture.” Not everyone will “suffer a separation of soul and body.” (John Wesley) It think Paul is saying that it doesn’t really matter if we are “dead” or alive at this point. There will be a change. The dead will be resurrected and the living will be changed to a body that won’t rot.

 

Fact four: “And when the rotting body has been clothed in what can’t decay, and the dying body has been clothed in what can’t die, then this statement in scripture will happen: Death has been swallowed up by a victory.” [1 Corinthians 15:54 CEB] Death has been defeated. He know this because Jesus rose from the dead. As a follower of Jesus, I fully expect to follow Him out of the grave. (Unless I’m alive for the rapture.)

 

Fact five: “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT] Sin and death are connected (see 1 Corinthians 15:55 – 56). We die because we sin. We die because the human race is corrupted by sin. To defeat death permanently then sin must also be permanently defeated. Which is exactly what we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday (Easter).

 

There it is. What we do for the Lord is NEVER useless because it has eternal value. What we do for the flesh is ALWAYS useless because it’s all rotting. We may not know it in this moment, but it is a fact.