Serving as to the Lord

Why We Serve

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The first two servants in Jesus' story did business “till I come” (Luke 19:13). They worked for their master even while he was far away. Why do God's people serve Him?

Because of what He has done. The prophet Samuel told Israel to fear the Lord and serve Him with all their heart, and to think about the great things He had done for them (1 Samuel 12:24). We serve God because He has been so good to us.

Love first. Moses told Israel what the Lord asked of them: to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul (Deuteronomy 10:12). Serving God starts with loving Him. Paul wrote that Christ's love moves His people to live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Gladly. “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). Serving God is not like working for a harsh boss. It is serving a kind Master who loves us.

Gladness, not dread. Someone who thinks his master is harsh works with a heavy heart. A servant who knows his master is kind can work gladly. God's people know that He is good, so they can serve Him with joy.

Servants and friends. Jesus told His disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Jesus' servants are also His friends.

From the heart. Paul told servants to work not only when someone was watching, like people who only want to please others, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (Ephesians 6:6).

Eager to serve. Paul also wrote that believers should be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Fervent means full of warm, eager energy.

Every day. Serving the Lord is not only for church. It happens at home, at school and with friends, whenever we do something because we love Him.

The gospel. Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He died for our sins, and He rose again. We serve Him because He loved us first, not to earn His love.

Application. Before you do a job this week, say a quiet prayer and tell the Lord you are doing it for Him. Then do it gladly, as a gift to Him.

In Luke 19:13 the servants were told, “Do business till I come.” What keeps a servant faithful while the master is away? Scripture gives the reasons God's people serve Him.

Remembering (1 Samuel 12:24). At the end of his leadership, Samuel urged Israel to fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all their heart, considering what great things He had done for them. Service begins with remembering grace.

What the Lord asks (Deuteronomy 10:12). Moses asked Israel what the Lord their God required of them: to fear Him, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Him with all their heart and with all their soul. Love stands before service in that list, and service is how love works. Paul says the same of Christ's love, which moves believers to live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Gladness (Psalm 100:2). “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” People who know God's goodness can serve Him gladly, not with dread.

Friends of the Master (John 15:15). “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Believers still serve Him, and they also know His heart.

Eunoia (Ephesians 6:6-7). Paul told the household servants of his day not to work only when watched, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord. Goodwill is eunoia (say: YOO-noy-ah), a willing, well-meaning attitude. The same heart fits every job a believer does.

Fervent (Romans 12:11). “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Serving the Lord is not slow or half-hearted.

The gospel. The Son of Man came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He died and rose again, and salvation is “the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Service answers His love; it never pays for salvation.

Application. Before chores, homework or practice this week, tell the Lord you are doing it for Him. Ask Him to change the way you work.

When No One Is Watching

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The king in Jesus' story found out what each servant had done. The Lord sees what His servants do too, even when no one else is looking.

As to the Lord. Paul told servants to do their work with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men. He reminded them that whatever good anyone does, he will receive it back from the Lord (Ephesians 6:7-8).

Pleasing God or people? Paul asked whether he was trying to please people. He said that if he were still pleasing men, he would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). We can be kind and helpful to people, but we work to please God. Some people do good only when others are watching. God's servants do good because He is watching, and because they love Him.

Our aim. Paul wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). An aim is the thing you try hard to hit.

A cup of cold water. Jesus said that whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of His little ones, because that person belongs to Jesus, will not lose his reward (Matthew 10:42). No act of kindness done for Jesus is too small.

God does not forget. God will not forget the love you show for His name by helping His people (Hebrews 6:10).

Even ordinary things. Paul wrote that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Glory means honor. Eating lunch, playing fair and doing homework can all honor God.

The Lord's eyes. A prophet told King Asa that the eyes of the Lord look across the whole earth, to show Himself strong for people whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is not looking for famous people. He is looking for hearts that belong to Him, and He helps them.

The gospel. Jesus obeyed His Father all the way to the cross, even when people mocked Him. There He died for our sins. Then God raised Him from the dead and gave Him “the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).

Application. Do one kind thing this week that no one will see: pick up trash, pray for a classmate, or help without being asked. God sees it, and He is pleased when you do it for Him.

When the king returned, he “commanded these servants … to be called to him” (Luke 19:15). What they had done while he was away mattered to him. Scripture teaches believers to serve with the Lord's eyes in mind, not people's.

As to the Lord (Ephesians 6:7-8). Paul told servants to do their service with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord. The real Master is in heaven, and He sees what earthly masters miss.

Not men-pleasers (Galatians 1:10). Paul asked whether he was seeking to persuade men or God, and whether he was trying to please men. If he were still pleasing men, he said, he would not be a bondservant of Christ. Kindness to people is right; living for their applause is not.

The aim (2 Corinthians 5:9). “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” The aim does not change with the audience.

The smallest gift (Matthew 10:42). Jesus said that whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple will by no means lose his reward. The size of the gift does not set its value; the One it is done for does.

Remembered (Hebrews 6:10). God is not unjust to forget the labor of love that believers show toward His name by serving His people.

Eyes that search (2 Chronicles 16:9). A prophet told King Asa that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. The Lord is not searching for impressive people but for loyal hearts, and He strengthens them.

All of life (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul wrote that whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, you should do all to the glory of God. His words reach even ordinary meals and games.

The gospel. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Son pleased His Father when the crowd mocked Him, and God gave Him “the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). A believer's place with God rests on Him.

Application. This week, do one hidden act of service and tell no one. Then thank God that He sees, and that your place with Him rests on Christ, not on what anyone else thinks.

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