Study 35

Serving The Living God

If grace so pervades a church, will any work ever get done? Will people be so preoccupied by their glorious freedom that they'll opt out of service altogether and become idle Christians for the rest of their lives?

Let me remind you of Hebrews 9:14: 'The blood of Christ … cleanses your conscience from dead works to serve the living God' (italics mine). Although you're not called to dead works, you're certainly called to serve. In fact, God is very interested in what you do. He calls you to serve him in such a way as will give him glory and bring you reward when Jesus returns.

You might wonder where the subject of rewards fits in to the theme of grace. Maybe you're among the many Christians who have never really considered the Bible's teaching on rewards – but more about that later. For now let's look at 1 Corinthians 3.

Paul says that (any man's) 'work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work' (1 Cor. 3:13). Here we discover that there will be a meticulous inspection of everyone's work and that the quality of our work will be examined by fire. Only the works which survive the fire test will warrant a reward.

On one occasion 'Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury' (Mark 12:41). The average pastor might have averted his gaze when people gave their money to God's work – but not so Jesus. He deliberately observed not only the gift itself, but also what lay behind it in terms of motivation and resourcefulness. It's almost as though he was commanding fire to fall on the offerings.

We read on, 'Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny' (Mark 12:41,42). The fire falls, the smoke lifts and what remains? The rich lose their reward in the intensity of the flames while the widow receives praise and honour from Jesus. Paul continues, 'If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames' (1 Cor. 3:14,15).

Our salvation is secure because it's by grace. God has thoroughly accepted us but he'll scrutinise our works and apply the fire test to them. In that respect, we all face the possibility of suffering loss.

To Meditate On

God expects to be served.

‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’ (Matt. 5:16).

‘As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work’ (John 9:4).

(Jesus) ‘gave himself for us … to purify for Himself a people … zealous for good deeds’ (Titus 2:14 NASB).

‘Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done’ (Rev. 22:12).

To Consider

What motivates people to act as the widow did?

What secret sacrifices are you making for God?

Food For Though

What characteristics do you admire most about Jesus, the greatest servant of all?

Which characteristics do you need to work on most in your life?

Ask God to help you to be a better servant.

To Ponder

Describe the lifestyle of a Christian whom you think would 'suffer loss'.

Be Inspired

‘When we have thus taught faith in Christ, then do we teach also good works. Because thou hast laid hold upon Christ by faith, through whom thou are made righteous, begin now to work well.’

Martin Luther