A DAMAGED SERVICE

INTRODUCTION:

WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICE, THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS THAT EVERY BELIEVER MUST REMEMBER ABOUT SERVICE TO THE LORD. First, it must be a continual part of the believer’s life and second, it must always be done from the heart.

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Augustine once commented, “No man has a right to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the service due to his neighbor; nor has any man a right to be so immersed in active life as to neglect the contemplation of God.”

300 Quotations for Preachers Not Too Much Service, Not Too Much Contemplation

No man has a right to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the service due to his neighbor; nor has any man a right to be so immersed in active life as to neglect the contemplation of God.

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

For the believer, our service comes from our theology.

No man has a right to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the service due to his neighbor; nor has any man a right to be so immersed in active life as to neglect the contemplation of God.

Elliot Ritzema, ed., 300 Quotations for Preachers (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

On the flip side, our lack of service is also due to our theology because a wrong understanding of God will lead us into all kinds of responses and evils.

A SUMMARY OF THE PASSAGE

In this sixth and final accusation given by the prophet Malachi is the fact that the people did not believe that there was value is serving God and that they deserved something for doing what they were supposed to do.

They had a wrong motive behind what they did.

What is striking is that they weren’t even doing what they were supposed to and when they were, it was not the right thing or done in the right way. Yet, they still desired a blessing.

What an amazing twist of thought. How wrong man is when they do what they are supposed to do for the Lord and require blessing because of it; and how wrong it is when the motive for doing right is that blessing.

This shows a grave heart problem. The proper motive behind service for God needs to be love for God!

UNDERSTANDING OUR SERVICE TO GOD

Christian servanthood

A. There are Gifts of service

(ESV) — 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

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(ESV) — 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

(ESV) — 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

(ESV) — 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

(ESV) — 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

B. There are Examples of service for us to follow

(ESV) — 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

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(ESV) — 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

(ESV) — 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

(ESV) — 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

(ESV) — 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

C. Christian leadership means service

(ESV) — 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

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(ESV) — 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

D. The office of deacon was seen as a serving role

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(ESV) — 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

(ESV) — 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

EXAMPLES OF HUMAN SERVICE TO THE LORD

Examples of human helpfulness

A. It is shown to those in need

(ESV) — 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

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(ESV) — 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

(ESV) — 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.

(ESV) — 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

(ESV) — 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

B. It is shown by young people

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(ESV) — 18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.

(ESV) — 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

(ESV) — 17 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.

(ESV) — 36 And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

(ESV) — 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

(ESV) — 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

C. It is shown within marriage

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(ESV) — 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

(ESV) — 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

(ESV) — 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

(ESV) — 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

(ESV) — 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

(ESV) — 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

D. It is shown to God’s people

(ESV) — 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

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(ESV) — 15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

(ESV) — 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.

(ESV) — 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

(ESV) — 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

(ESV) — 15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

(ESV) — 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

(ESV) — 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

GOD REWARDS FAITHFUL SERVICE

(ESV) — 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

(ESV) — 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

(ESV) — 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ ”

(ESV) — 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

John Owen did not mince words when he wrote the following in regard to service to the Lord,

God has work to do in this world, and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements is to cast off his authority. Universal holiness is required of us, that we may do the will of God in our generation. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness, but we must also serve our generation as David did before he fell asleep. God has a work to do, and not to help him is to oppose him.

“God has work to do in this world, and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements is to cast off his authority. Universal holiness is required of us, that we may do the will of God in our generation. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness, but we must also serve our generation as David did before he fell asleep. God has a work to do, and not to help him is to oppose him.”

What might we say about our service to the Lord today?

Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).

Does our service come from a wrong understanding of God?

Does our service come from a wrong application of God’s Word?

May the Lord help all of us to be the servants that God would have us to be!