I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. – I Cor. 15:10
Those journals, diaries, or relations of experience which do not exalt the riches of the grace of God, but display the self-importance of men, are as tainted food to the palate: they remind of the poet's phrase, "and I the little hero of each tale." Not so Paul, in speaking of himself; no sooner does he advert to what he had done, than he hides himself in the grace of God. Hence this doctrine is plain: the grace of God makes a person labor for God, and yet keeps him humble before God.
To have the grace of God with us, is to have a lively sense of God's free favor in Christ upon our souls; without this we go on heavily in the ways of God, soon tire in his service, and turn back and walk no more with Christ: this was the life and spring of all Paul's labors. Let us see to it, then, that we wrestle with God in prayer, study the precious word of his grace, and be diligent in attending his ordinances, that we may ever have a lively sense of God's pardoning, justifying, sanctifying grace in Christ upon our hearts, ever cautiously avoid all persons, places, and things, which tend to grieve the Spirit and quench his lively influence.
Every private christian is called to labor for God, as well as apostles and ministers. There is such a thing as receiving the grace of God in vain. How? When we profess to esteem and receive the doctrines of the Gospel of grace, and yet they bring not forth in us correspondent fruits. Oh how much is this the case among professors! How greatly to be deplored and deprecated! What! do you profess to know God, and yet in works deny him? Do you believe the love and salvation of Christ for miserable sinners; and yet can you, instead of laboring for his glory, be idle, in not living and walking, studying and striving to please our Saviour and profit his dear children? Have you the grace of God with you? It is to be feared, if you have, that you have sadly lost its life and influence. O then be deeply affected for your state!
Is the grace of God warm upon our hearts? Are we active for God's glory in our lives? Do we labor more than others for God? O let us beware that we do not sacrifice to ourselves, or exalt our own power and faithfulness; for true grace will keep us low and humble: in the light of it we shah see how little we do for God, how much more we ought to do; and in the little we do, how much evil there is in it, and how far short we come in all of his glory: "Be clothed with humility." 1 Peter 5:5.
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