Why We Serve
WHY WE SERVE (Wrong motives for ministry)
Good Morning,
In our church and many other churches, one person runs the weekly routine of teaching a certain class or junior church, and they continue to do so year after year. These people are unsung hero’s! These people make a continuous impact on eternity and receive no accolades or articles written praising their influence; they are simply making a consistent impact for good in the world.
Too many people jump at the chance to make a big splash; they want to meet a need that brings attention; they strive to find someone in need for that one moment. Committing to daily or weekly work is more than they want to fulfill, but helping with something big once in a great while is the pace they enjoy most. These people willingly offer their services to preach to a group when there is no pastor, but they will not preach weekly for a rest home service to folks who might not remember their names.
The one-time heroes are not bad, they just miss the big picture. They labor for their own names, not for the cause. An opposite of this kind of person is the one who dedicates long-term faithfulness in chipping away at the darkness that is creeping into our entire culture. This person is the man or lady who runs a jail service week after week with little thanks or praise once leaving the walls of the jail. Again, the hidden work being done is eternal, and the Lord says not to be weary in well doing.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”
It is easy to grow tired of the daily or weekly duties. These responsibilities can become mundane; yet this is what defines the Christian life: making a difference day after day and also needing the Lord’s strength daily to keep on for His glory not our own.
2 Corinthians 4:1 “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;”
2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
We need a daily renewing of Christ’s power in our carnal, fleshly vessels.
Another wrong motive is wanting to do something for someone who has a name: a visiting evangelist, or someone who speaks at our annual ladies conference (helping these people is important). To help on a bus route or teach a child’s Sunday school class every week has no glamour or glory. Again, why do we do what we do? Is it for our own names? Is it for the thrill of being close to a star in the Lord’s work?
Proverbs 25:6 “Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:”
Proverbs 25:7 “For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.”
Remember, there are no stars in God’s work; for He said in Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
It matters not who someone is or what their name may be, serving the people of God is pleasing to the Lord.
Mark 9:41 “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Sometimes we will help another as long as it does not inconvenience us. Again, that is hardly a biblical motive; especially considering what our Savior did for us and how terribly He was treated.
2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
May we serve the Lord and the people of God because it is our honor and privilege. If we are able, may we attempt to keep our names and our pleasure completely out of our service.
Pastor