There is a constant debate about faith and works
The answer is very simple: It’s both
But it is not the kind of work you think of
nor are the works rewarded the same way we are used to on Earth
Those who are looking for Earthly rewards, will get them;
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues
and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:5
Not caring about a reward or knowing that God will reward you later,
or differently than you are used to…That is where blind faith comes in
Sitting on our laurels, feeling smug, because we are saved by faith,
is not what pleases the Lord
Jesus has many commands to us and He said,
Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
Prayer is one way to labor in the Lord
How do you do that?
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
and for the love of the Spirit,
that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Romans 15:30
It’s not a fleshly labor, is there a requirement of time?
Yes, just as our minds should be on the Lord and His precepts
as much as is possible all of our waking hours
The bible is clear: Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you,
always labouring fervently for you in prayers,
that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Colossians s 4:12
Prayers are underrated
God honors our prayers
Paul said in Philippians 1: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, vs. 3-4
Pray that God will send workers into His harvest
And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
Luke 10:2
Another reminder of prayer and its value
It helps God’s will to be done
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that,
if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: 1 John 5:14
Don’t forget how much He will honor and bless your prayers
that are prayed according to His will
But when He saw the multitudes,
He was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad,
as sheep having no shepherd.
Then saith He unto His disciples,
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
He answered and said unto them,
He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Matthew 13:39