Laboring To Rest

The KJV translates Hebrews 4: 11 as "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest." The above translation has "be diligent" instead of "labor." "Labor" or "diligent" is from the Greek word "spoudazō" and is elsewhere translated (KJV) as "endeavour (3x), do diligence (2x), be diligent (2x), give diligence (1x), be forward (1x), labour (1x), study (1x)." It means "to hasten, make haste, to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence."

Notice these various ways the KJV translates the word:

"forward to do" (Gal. 2: 10) 

"endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire" (I Thess. 2: 17)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God" (II Tim. 2: 15)

"be diligent to come" (II Tim. 4: 9, 21; Titus 3: 12) 

"give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (II Peter 1: 10)

Thus we may substitute these words for the text of Heb. 4: 11 and have

"let us go forward to the entering of that rest"

"let us endeavor to enter that rest"

"let us study to enter that rest"

"let us be diligent to enter that rest"

We have "examples" in two different types of Hebrews who left Egypt and began a journey to Canaan's land, the land of "rest." In Caleb and Joshua, we have true believers who persevered, who did not lose faith in God and his words of promise, who did not murmur and complain, who did not worship the idol, and who did not participate in fornication. The others, those killed by God in the wilderness, whose "carcasses" were strewn in the desert, were the unbelievers, the hypocrites. True believers, the patient and persevering ones, entered God's rest. The unbelievers did not. God is showing us in this who will finally enter God's eternal rest and who will not. 

The message is simply this: Labor on towards the future promised rest. Keep your eyes on the prize. Labor on, or press on, as Paul says: "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3: 14) 

Said Dr. Jeremiah Bass on this point (emphasis mine):

"Reach forth, pressing forward for the prize – that’s what it means to labor to enter into God’s rest. Or, as the apostle Peter puts it, “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet. 3:12). In other words, all of life is to be lived in light of eternity. My choices and priorities, and the way I spend my time, ought to reflect that. Does it?" (See "The Rest of the Story" here)

Here are some other verses that speak of exerting effort towards the goal of final salvation.

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13: 24)

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but (labor) for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6: 27)

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." (I Cor. 9: 24)

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Gal. 6: 8-9)

Some think that this teaches salvation by works. But, this is a non sequitur. What it teaches is that salvation is progressive. A believer is one who has been saved, is presently and continually being saved, and will yet be saved in the future after the resurrection and glorification of believers. What these verses show is that final salvation follows a life of faith, a life of doing the will of the Lord, of doing good works. These verses show that salvation is conditional, not in the Pelagian or Arminian sense, but that salvation in some sense is the result of conditions. But, as Augustine taught, based upon the bible, is that what God requires of us for salvation he freely gives, so that the performance of those conditions is guaranteed or made certain, the result of grace, the gift of unconditional and unmerited love. Wrote the prophet Isaiah:

"LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us." (Isa. 26: 12)

The apostle agrees, saying:

"Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Heb. 13: 21)

Thus, the very works and effort that believers exert towards the obtaining of the prize are the products of God's working. Thus, he gets the credit. Also, the reward given to those who persevere and labor to enter is not merited, for their very perseverance is the result of God's grace and his internal work in the soul and spirit.

Staying focused on the prize, and desiring it above all things, will cause one to persevere and endure. Those who give up, who "faint," or quit the race, manifest that they did not truly desire the prize to start with, having judged it as not worth the effort. These, like the shallow ground hearer in the parable, "persevere for awhile but when persecution arises because of the word by and by he is offended" and falls away. They were half-hearted believers, shallow in every respect, having "no root in themselves," that is, no firm connection with Christ. 

God's grace and work receive all the credit for all that is involved in salvation. So Paul said:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (I Cor. 15: 10)

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (I Cor. 4: 7 NIV)

It seems to be an oxymoron to speak of laboring to find rest. But, so it is. The slothful man will never truly enjoy rest. Said Solomon: "The sleep (rest) of a laboring man is sweet" (Eccl. 5: 12) The hardworking man enjoys his rest far more than does the lazy man. Again, Solomon said: "As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed." (Prov. 26: 14) The truth is, lazy people do not really know the joy of peaceful rest. All true believers are "laboring" men and women. On the other hand, hypocrites are lazy servants. In the day of judgment the Master will say to some "you wicked and slothful servant" (Matt. 25: 26) before he condemns them to punishment. 

The true believer is "not slothful in business," but is rather "fervent in spirit" in "serving the Lord." (Rom. 12: 11) This is because believers love to live and labor for the Lord. They too find will and strength to endure hard labor for the Lord because they know that they have a reward in Heaven. Lazy servants, lukewarm believers, will not inherit eternal life. Said the apostle: "That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. 6: 12)

Faith and patience (endurance) are not qualities of the slothful but rather of the hard working. It is they who are seekers and who are characterized "by patient continuance in well doing" who obtain eternal life. (Rom. 2: 7)

"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." (I Cor. 15: 58)