Saved to serve

This is my final post in the three part series on service. In the last post we looked at the fact that God equips us for service and today i will argue from the fact that God will judge us on how we serve him is an indication that we should serve him.

The Lord commands us to serve, He gives the enablement to serve him and He will one day evaluate everyone on how they served him. To put in another way God is going to hold each one of us accountable for how we serve him. The parable of the talent is a good place to start. Each of the stewards was given talents to use, while the master was away. The wise and faithful stewards used their talents for the sake of the company. The one steward who hid the talent was rebuked and judged for how he used the talent. Furthermore the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10 says; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Part of that judgment has to do with how we used the gifts the Lord has rendered to us. That is the whole essence of been a steward, you manage what has been entrusted to your care and responsibility. It is important to equally note that we are created for Him and for His glory and good pleasure. And we are His slaves therefore we do not have our own agenda but carry out the masters and his alone.

It is very clear from the scriptures that we ought to be about our fathers business. While it is still day, while we still have breath. The Lord expects us to serve him faithfully, because he has entrusted us with spiritual gifts as stewards and he will consequently expect us to give an account on how we used his gifts. Having heard these wonderful and yet overwhelming truths the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58 will be fitting when he says; finally brethren be steadfast, immovable and always abiding on the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Paul is telling the believers that they should be stable and unmoved by any situation or circumstance and that they should outdo themselves in doing the work of the world.

We must have done with day-dreams, and get to work. I believe in eggs, but we must get chickens out of them. I do not mind how big your egg is; it may be an ostrich’s egg if you like, but if there is nothing in it, pray clear away the shells. If something comes of it, God bless your speculations, and even if you should go a little further than I think it wise to venture, still, if you are more useful, God be praised for it. We want facts — deeds done, souls saved. It is all very well to write essays, but what souls have you saved from going down to hell? Your excellent management of your school interests me, but how many children have been brought into the church by it? We are glad to hear of those special meetings, but how many have really been born to God in them? Are saints edified? Are sinners converted? To swing to and fro on a five-barred gate is not progress, yet some seem to think so. I see them in perpetual Elysium, humming over to themselves and their friends, “We are very comfortable.” God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell. In traveling along the mountain roads in Switzerland you will continually see marks of the boring-rod; and in every minister’s life there should be traces of stern labor[1]

The Lord is looking for people to work with and serve him. He expects every believer to serve him; He further equips us for the kind of work he calls us to and will eventually judge us on how we used our gifts and talents to serve him. The Lord saves us in order that we may serve him.




























[1] Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to my students. Pg 114