But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 NET
Paul was an apostle–the Apostle to the Gentiles. He traveled extensively, proclaiming the gospel to all who would listen, Jew and Gentile alike. He wrote nearly half of the New Testament books. And he suffered tremendously for the sake of the gospel, ultimately facing death for his Lord. Few in the history of the church have made as much impact on the church as Paul did.
Who Gets the Credit?
Yet his work as an apostle, evangelist, church planter, author, and martyr did not go to his head. He took no credit for what he was able to accomplish. Instead, he gave the credit where it belonged. To God who had enabled him.
It was by the grace of God that Paul had become what he was, not because he was somehow more talented or gifted than other people. And God’s grace to Paul was not in vain. Paul took the grace God had given him, and he used it fully, working hard in his service to the Lord. But in his work and accomplishments, he gave all the credit to God and his grace.
Don’t Let His Grace to You Be in Vain
What was true for Paul should be true for each of us who have given our lives to the Lord Jesus. It is by the grace of God that I can write these words you are reading, and not because there is anything special about me. The credit belongs to him. My responsibility is to not let his grace to me be in vain–to work hard for him. Yet even that is enabled by God’s grace.
If you are a child of God, he has given his grace to you, enabling you to serve him in some way. Be faithful to his calling and enabling in your life. Don’t let his grace to you be in vain. By the grace of God, be who he has graciously equipped you to be.
