Friends, we live in a world where instant gratification rules. Where reward is expected for simply being us! I do, therefore I deserve…! And yes, we as Christians are just as guilty as the world. We treat our Master, if I dare use that title for Christ, as a genie-in-a-bottle far too often. Or, let me make this personal, I know I have. Maliciously? Never. Intentionally? I don’t believe so, but I will leave God to be my judge. But certainly I am guilty of expecting a reward for my service. Does that shock you? It was humbling , to say the least, when the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. And as the old saying goes…, “truth hurts”!
But there it was for me to confront. So in conjunction with our text, I am using my correction (thank you Jesus for your loving kindness) as a cradle for this week’s message. The message is intended firstly for the messenger, then for the listener.
I, too, am growing…
In studying our text, I saw clearly that via our fallen sin nature we as people, saved and unsaved alike, have become ensnared by pride…
Not always blatant pride nor arrogant pride; we seem to catch that easily enough. It’s our subtle pride, our shadowy underbelly pride that trip us up every time! Basically it’s the lie we tell ourselves when we say we have learned to operate outside of our pride. When Truth be told, we can do nothing in it of ourselves; outside of God we are powerless to change or surrender anything! Don’t believe me? Go serve somewhere as the person who does nothing but clean-up after people every day. Basically, a mom, or a single parent father, a custodial grandparent who has raised their child and is now raising their grandchild. As much as they love these children, there’s not one that I have ever met, myself included, who if they want to be honest, didn’t get ticked off because theirs was a thankless, taken for granted, expected to preform without reward job!
And as Christians we carry this-worldly attitude of expected reward into our service to Christ. That is clear in our text today. Jesus is answering his disciples request for more faith through a familiar teaching tool of His, a parable. Through His parabolic teachings Jesus breaks down our human thinking and presumptions for us… Remember what the Lord tells us about the differences between our ways and His, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isa.55:8).
So here it is laid out simply:
- Jesus is telling His disciples both then and now (His Word is the same yesterday, today and forever) are you looking for a reward before your job (service) is finished?
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Are you looking to be victorious, to wear the garland without fighting the battle?
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Or are you seeking to profit before payday?
To understand God’s message here we must listen with ears singularly attuned by humilities hand. We are the servants; HE is the Master. We are owed nothing, not even our lives! We deserve death, yet in His infinite mercy, He generously rewards us, His servants with life eternal!
Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment.
Grace is receiving of which you cannot conceive; an unfathomable gift. It’s like that same judge awarding you $10,000,000.00, after finding you guilty. That is the heart of Father God. For God said to Moses, ” The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Ps.145:8 NIV).
So with this in mind, here’s the question…Are you self-serving, or are you God’s servant?
You must get this answer firmly settled in your heart and mind, not only in your relationship with God, but also in view of your eternity. It must be as fixed within you as Jesus’ face was fixed to go to Jerusalem. “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined (fixed, steadfast) to go to Jerusalem” (Lk.9:51NASB).
He was set on fulfilling His service to God as The Spotless Lamb given in sacrifice for the redemption of sinful man. Never once in Scripture do we hear Jesus ask, What’s in it for me? What do I get if I do this for you? Never!
To the contrary, and by example to us all, His will was perfectly, wholly submitted to God the Father. He was heard in the Garden of Gethsemane when faced with His impending Crucifixion as saying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”(Mt.26:39NASB). Thank God we have a Savior who was, in His humanity, tempted as we are and able to relate to our weak flesh! Yet in His Divinity, submissive unto death on a tree for our reconciliation with the Father…
That is what Jesus was trying to communicate to His disciples both then and now, to each of us. And therefore, instead of valuing themselves upon what they had done, and expecting great rewards for it, it became them; after having performed all that was commanded them, to think and say that they had done nothing but their duty.
No medals are given to us for doing what it is we were fashioned to do; worshiping God in the form of our service. First, in a life totally surrendered to Him and secondly, as a natural by-product, service to His people. And nowhere in our contract/covenant (The Word of God), does it say that job will be easy or that we’re due a reward here on earth. Quite the contrary! Jesus tells us to expect persecution, harsh treatment, abuse, family discord, rejection, and humiliation…Listen to His Words… “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation (grievous trouble; severe trials or suffering), but take courage; I have overcome the world.” And, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you”.… (Jn.16:33NASB). What an honor!
You don’t deserve a reward. Period. You’re merely doing your job. You’re His chosen servant. That is your reward here and now; the great privilege of being chosen by God for service…let that sink into your core… “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn15:16 NIV).
Simple right? Man cannot profit God. Happy is he who judges’ himself an unprofitable servant; miserable is he whom God pronounces such. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give, by his grace, a value to our good works, which, in consequence of his promise, entitles us to an eternal reward.
When you are privileged to be called into the service of Our God, leave the need for recognition, honor, visibility, and accolades to others. Let them wear their medals as a reward for services rendered. You have just received God…
And as an aside… To our men and women of the Armed Forces, thank you to those who put their lives in harm’s way for our safety, rightfully you should wear your medals with honor and pride.
But for us servants, let us follow The Way of The King who came as our model, a living breathing example of humble servitude. “And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
So here’s the thing…are you willing to lay down your pride, your need for recognition and reward? Are you willing to live in the shadows, allowing others to shine? What is motivating you to serve God, in your relationship with Him? The answer should not only be obvious… but is simple.
It’s our most powerful four letter word… LOVE! A light in this present darkness…
That’s it. For God so loved… “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn.15:13 NIV).
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”.
And… “Work as unto the Lord and as unto men. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24)
There are no medals given for faithful service to God…
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