Monday, August 27, 2012

Is It Any Good To Serve God. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Does it do any good to serve God? Is it worth my time? What if, after all this work, no one comes or is blessed by it?

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know your labor in the lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15: 58, NIV*.

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STAND FIRM

God does not ask us to be full of busyness but to stand firm as in the "Be still and know I am the Lord.*" statements that are repeated in scripture.  Sometimes it is the misdirected busyness that wears us out.  God does not want us to be busy for the sake of doing something; He wants us to serve and give ourselves as an act of worship.

ALWAYS

We should not let an opportunity to serve God pass us by.  We should always be willing to serve and always be ready to do the work of the Lord.

GIVE

To give yourself to the work of the Lord is a choice you must make for yourself.  We must do this as an offering of worship.  We must not give halfhearted, or just some times like on the days the church meets.  We must be fully turned on at all times for every opportunity to serve God willingly and cheerfully. To be sour-faced and complaining indications that one is not giving themselves fully to the Lord.

WORK

So much of the things we do are not the work of the Lord because our attitude is vain or selfish.  If we are doing something to be seen and receive praise or because of guilt or because we are pressured to do it, this is not the work of the Lord, no matter what the mission or project.  If we do something, even a common household chore, with an attitude that it is given to God as an act of worship, then that becomes the work of the Lord.

LABOR

Serving the Lord is labor, and sometimes it is hard.  Sometimes you come early and leave late and serve meals while not having time to eat one yourself.  Sometimes you are up late at night preparing to serve then getting up early to give service.  It is the willing joyful heart that gladly makes these sacrifices in his name that turns labor into the work of the Lord.

NOT IN VAIN

This is a promise that our labor would not be in vain.  We may not see the fruit of our efforts, but it is not in vain, nor is the effort wasted.  The results may be hidden from our eyes or maybe a long time coming, but they will come.

*Psalm 46:10

To read this verse in other translations, then follow this link: Online Parallel Bible.

To learn more about coming to God, follow this link: Salvation.

Adron 8/27/12