Why are you following, serving, living for God? Is it for the prospect of receiving a blessing? Hopes of health, wealth, and overall prosperity? Or is it because you are afraid of hell or dream of heaven? Reason like that and many others are often why people choose to serve God. But the truth is those are just the gifts we may receive from God. Not the reason to follow after Christ.
We should not be following God because of what He has done for us before or what we hope He will do in the future. That is a dangerous lifestyle that too often leads more people away from God than to him. Because when they do not receive what they expected from God but were never promised by God they still blame Him, hate Him, turn their back on Him or just decide God is not real.
All because they decided to follow God for the wrong reasons. They believed that by serving God they would gain the world but in reality, to serve God is to forsake the world. The Bible even tells us not to love the things of this world.
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Our reasons for serving God should be founded in the fact that by offering Jesus as a sacrifice on the cross, everyone is able to have their sins erased. A way has been made for all people to be made whole. To be brought back into the intended relationship between man and God that leads ultimately leads to heaven.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
But that still should not the primary reason for following God. Our willingness and desire to follow God should be all because of who He is. God is the creator of all things. He made the earth and everything in it, and every one of us. God did that and as the creator, He deserves honor and praise and the service of his creation.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
Peter addresses the reason as to why we are to serve God in first Peter chapter five. In it, he is speaking directly with those who are in charge of a group of people. But his statement can really be applied to any act of service unto the Lord. Don’t serve because of what you may receive for your service. Instead, serve just because you are eager to serve God.
1 Peter 5:2 (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;
So again I ask you why are you following the Lord? Is it simply because of who He is? Because you truly love Him and want to show Him all the Glory and Honor He deserves?
If so that is awesome keep up the great service. If not please consider what you have read in this post. Take some time to pray. Ask for God for His help in changing your ways. And simply begin to serve God as the Bible says you should.
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