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Bible Question: Why
is the discipline of service a diminishing aspect of the Christian
life? What is the true value of service?
Bible Answer: The
Lord Jesus wants more than our service to Him and He wants more than
our heart's desire for Him. He wants both. Some Christians get trapped
into thinking that God really wants us to be busy in serving Him.
Others say that He really wants only our heart. Both views are wrong.
This is a problem within the church for those
who are "serving the Lord." Many in the church who are "serving
the Lord" are really serving themselves. Many are so busy that
they spend little time in prayer, confessing their sins, or in the
study of His Word. Most church workers are consumed with the busy
activities of the church and not with the Lord Jesus. Few would turn
down the opportunity to "serve the Lord" in leadership or
teaching, but they would never want to wash the dishes or sweep the
floor because their real motivation is not serving Jesus. We all have
spiritual gifts, but God did not give us gifts with the intent that
we would avoid serving by washing one another's feet. Jesus did that
too! Why does this happen? The answer is illustrated in the Old Testament
in the life of King Saul. King Saul had just finished a battle with
the Amalekites. He obeyed the Lord but he made one exception to the
Lord's command. He disobeyed the Lord by keeping the best spoils of
the battle. Oh, he served the Lord. He went to war against the Amalekites
and defeated them and then made a small "adjustment" to
God's command. So God sent the prophet Samuel to Saul with this message.
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And
Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings
and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold,
to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of
rams. (NASB) 1 Samuel 15:22 |
Saul
had an obedience problem.
Our
Motivation. Yet Samuel does not say that God wants ONLY our obedience.
We have all found that a person can obey unwillingly. There is an
old story about a boy who after being told to sit down, said to his
parent that he would sit down but he would be standing up on the inside.
That is not the kind of obedience the Lord is looking for. God wants
more than external service. He wants our heart - our passion for Him.
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For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(NASB) Luke 12:34 |
ò
If
He has our heart, He has our obedience. He wants our service to come
from our heart! If He has our heart, He has our service - He has everything.
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But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (NASB)
Matthew 6:20-21 |
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