UNRELENTING JESUS
Home › Songs › Don’t Labor In Vain
Cover artwork for Don’t Labor In Vain
Heaven & Christ’s Return

Don’t Labor In Vain

Listen first. Then read the words, explore the Scripture pathway, and follow the song beyond itself to Jesus.

Listen
Understand

Lyrics

**Verse 1** On this earth—men tell of their riches and gold— They talk about towers and lands—all they have—by their own hands. And along the way—many are prone—to set up kingdoms and put themselves on the throne— And many will proclaim—they put their trust—only in their own name. **Verse 2** But God said—those who labor—labor—labor in vain— All is vain—unless all is done—in Jesus’s name— And while many only think of their riches today— God says there’s coming a day—when it all goes away— And everyone knows—you can’t take it with you—anyway! **Verse 3** So—right now—just lettin you know—There’s comin a day when all this has to go— For one day—there will be—a new heaven and earth— And you ain’t see nothing like what that will be worth— **Chorus** Ohhh—the streets under your feet—there gonna be gold— Gold streets and glory—the like has never been seen or told! Walls of Jasper, pearls and Rubys will abound— Emeralds, diamonds and crystal will be found all around— And in the middle of it all—a real King—wearing the most royal of any royal crown— And every minute by minute—for all eternity—Jesus will lean over at His feet and pick another one we lay down—right there on the ground! **Verse Ohhhhh—everybody knows riches can come and go— Why anyone would brag about riches—I just don’t know— Why would anyone be so bold— When God owns it all—ohhhh—He has riches untold! **Bridge** Sooooo—my friend—if all you store—are earthly riches—you store away— They will just be swept away—by sin’s dread sway. And the things of this earth—you’re holding so tight— Won’t be going with you—if He comes tomorrow or tonight. **Chorus** Soooo—the streets under your feet—are gonna be gold— Gold streets and glory—the like has never been seen or told! Walls of Jasper, pearls and Rubys will abound— Emeralds, diamonds and crystal will be found all around— And in the middle of it all—a real King—wearing the most royal of any royal crown— And every minute by minute—for all eternity—Jesus will lean over at His feet and pick another one we lay down—right there on the ground! **Tag** One day—no matter the size of the tower— All earthly Kings and kingdoms are gonna fall—all under God’s power. And all we now see before us—will no longer be found— His righteous fire—is takin it all to the ground! Soooo—Lay up treasures—in heaven—and down here—share Jesus and all His love— For His love—moth and rust doesn’t corrupt— But still saves souls for heaven above!
Ministry Devotional

Don’t Labor In Vain

Read together: Psalm 127:1–2; Matthew 6:19–21; 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19; Revelation 21:1–5, 18–23; 1 Corinthians 15:58

Most of us know someone who has spent a lifetime building. Bigger house, bigger account, bigger name. Maybe that someone is us. There is nothing wrong with honest work—Scripture honors it—but this song asks a pointed question: what are you building, and will any of it last?

The song opens with people boasting about riches, towers, and land "by their own hands," setting up their own little kingdoms and putting themselves on the throne. Then it quotes God's verdict. Read Psalm 127:1–2. "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." The psalm goes on to say it is vain to rise early and stay up late, toiling anxiously for food, for He gives to His beloved even in their sleep. Labor that leaves God out is labor that ultimately goes nowhere.

Jesus said it this way. Read Matthew 6:19–21. Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Store up treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Notice that Jesus does not say treasure is unimportant. He says to put it somewhere safe.

Paul gave Timothy similar counsel. Read 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it—or as the song puts it, you can't take it with you anyway. Paul warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and he tells the wealthy not to be arrogant or to put their hope in uncertain riches, but in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. They are to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, "storing up for themselves a good foundation for the coming age."

The chorus bursts with joy as it describes that coming age. Read Revelation 21:18–23. John saw a city with walls of jasper, foundations adorned with every kind of precious stone, gates of pearl, and a street of pure gold, as clear as glass. What we treat as the most precious materials on earth are pavement in heaven. And the city has no need of sun or moon, because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. At the center of it all is not gold, but the King.

The song pictures believers laying something at Jesus' feet for all eternity. That echoes Revelation 4:10–11, where the elders cast their crowns before the throne and declare, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power." Whatever reward God gives His people, the right response will be to give it back to Him in worship.

Here is the good news hidden in the song's warning. Paul ends his great chapter on the resurrection with these words: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Labor without God is vain. Labor in the Lord never is. Every act of love, every gift given, every time you share Jesus with someone—none of it is wasted.

Perhaps you have been building your own kingdom, and you sense it cannot hold. The King is inviting you to lay it down and trust Him. He alone can give you a treasure that will never be swept away.

A moment to respond: Look at your calendar and your bank statement from the past month. What do they say about where your treasure is? Choose one concrete way this week to store up treasure in heaven—an act of generosity, a gift to someone in need, or a conversation where you share Jesus.

Let's pray: Lord, forgive us for building our own kingdoms and trusting in what will not last. Thank You that everything belongs to You. Teach us to hold earthly things loosely and to invest our lives in what is eternal. Make us generous, faithful, and ready to share Jesus. We long for the day we see You, our King. Amen.

Our desire at UnrelentingJesus is that your life would be built on what lasts—and that every labor you offer in Jesus' name would count for eternity.

Related songs