MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE

“Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6 NKJV).

In the service of the Lord, motivation is important. It will not only determine the quality of our service, but it will determine how consistent our service will be. Our verse speaks of both the wrong motive and the right motive.

Wrong motive - “Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers.” Three things are said here about service done with the wrong motive. First, place of service - “Eyeservice.” Some folks will only serve where they are noticed; they will not serve in obscurity. If our motivation for service is guided by “eyeservice,” it will greatly limit the places where we will serve God. Second, praise for service - “Men-pleasers.” Some folks serve will only serve if they get the praise of men. The praise of God does not interest them. Such are like the Pharisees who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). Further, this attitude will not only limit our service, but it will also corrupt our service since we will be tempted to compromise to gain the praise of men. Third, person of service - If our motivation is “eyeservice” and “men-pleasers,” it is tantamount to serving self. This not only limits our service but also disqualifies us from serving the Lord.

Right motive - “Bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Three things are said about service with the right motive. First, the person of service - “Christ.” It is not self but the Savior that we are to serve. Second, the place of service - “Will of God.” Instead of being determined by the crowd, it is the “will of God” that tells us the where of service (as well as the what, when and how of service). Third, purity of service - “From the heart.” Our service for God must be heart service, genuine and pure. Some folks serve outwardly, but inwardly they are grumbling and complaining. This is not heart service; it is outward service. God sees the heart and evaluates our service on the attitude of our hearts. When our hearts are right, our service will be right.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“No man ever served God by doing things tomorrow!”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

English Particular Baptist Preacher

Word Study

Fish

In Matt. 7:9-10 we read, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (NKJV).

“Fish” is the Greek word ichthýs (ἰχθύς = ikh-thoos'). The word simply means fish. In context, the Lord Jesus continues His argument from everyday family life. “Fish” was one of the most common foods in the Galilean home; it was wholesome and nourishing. A “serpent,” however, was not only useless as food but dangerous. To place a serpent in a child’s hands would be an act of cruelty, not care. No normal, loving father would respond to a legitimate need with something harmful. Here, the Lord Jesus chooses this contrast deliberately to show how unthinkable it is to imagine God acting that way toward His children. If earthly fathers, who are flawed and limited, knows how to avoid giving harmful things, how much more can we trust the love and perfect wisdom of our heavenly Father? The point is, not only that God gives, but that He knows how to give.

Did You Know…

According to Num. 31:19, if you were considered ‘unclean,’ you had to stay outside the camp for 7 days until you were ‘clean’ again – a sort of quarantine.

Bible Quiz

Of the Lord Jesus` twelve disciples, which one do we know for certain was married?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

Ruth gave birth to a son who would be the grandfather of David. What was his name? Obed (Ruth 4:22).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus shall be the governor of the nations (Psalm 22:27-28; cf. Col. 1:16)

"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations!” (Psalm 22:27-28 NJKV).

The psalmist now turns his attention to the world at large. He anticipated that the world will turn to and worship the Lord because He is the sovereign King, the One who rules over the nations. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would bring blessing to the whole world (cf. Gen. 12:1-3). This has been fulfilled in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to die for the world. However, when He comes again, it will have a glorious fulfillment in the establishing of His glorious kingdom. “All the ends of the world” shall worship before our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through him shall all their praises be offered unto God.

Did You Know – Christian History

Gregory was born around 540 in Rome, Italy. He was commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, and was the 64th Bishop of Rome.

Born into a noble family, Gregory served as a Prefect of Rome. As Prefect, he presided over the senate and provided for the city’s defense, food supply, and finances. Later, he became one of the seven cardinal deacons of the church. When Pelagius died, Gregory was thrust into his place. On September 3, 590, Gregory was consecrated pope.

The job was every bit as hard as he expected. He had to feed starving Rome. It was he, not the Italian civil leaders, who negotiated with the Lombard invaders. Because the church was the biggest landlord in Italy, Gregory had to spend much precious time reforming the practices that prevailed on these lands both to make them more profitable and to relieve the peasants who were often badly treated. His strong sense of justice caused him to protect their rights although he must have been tempted to squeeze every coin from them since the papal estates provided the revenues from which he funded his widespread assistance to the needy and paid off attacking armies. Perhaps it was with all this work in mind that Gregory nicknamed himself “Servant of the servants of God.”

Gregory became one of the most notable medieval men and his books helped form the mindset of the Middle Ages. By means of Scripture studies and popular works, he urged men to contemplate eternity. His Pastoral Care became a textbook for kings and bishops. Alfred the Great of England not only followed its teachings, but translated it into the Saxon tongue. Alfred felt he owed a great debt to Gregory. In the midst of all his cares, Gregory did not forget the Saxons. He sent the monk Augustine as a missionary to them and centuries later, Alfred reaped the inheritance of Christianity. Gregory’s name is often associated with the arts, especially plain song, which is called Gregorian chant because he standardized it. He encouraged art in the church in order to portray the story of Christ for people who could not read. When the Patriarch of Constantinople adopted the title “ecumenical patriarch” Gregory objected. To elevate one bishop over all others was to degrade the others, he said. Gregory certainly allowed nothing to degrade the office of the Bishop of Rome. His energy and wisdom greatly strengthened the western church.

Gregory died on March 12^th, 604 in Rome. He was well known for his writings, which were more prolific than those of any of the previous popes. Throughout the Middle Ages, he was known as “the Father of Christian Worship” because of his exceptional efforts in revising the Roman worship of his day. Gregory is honored, along with Augustine, Jerome and Ambrose, as one of the four Great Latin Church Fathers. He is the second of the three Popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title “the Great,” alongside Popes Leo I and Nicholas I.

A Little Humor

A little boy was drawing furiously during church. His mom whispered, “What are you drawing?” “Jesus coming out of the tomb.” After a few minutes she peeked again. “Why is there a rocket ship?” “Well, Mom… He had to leave somehow.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The greatest love has a cross in the middle!”