Are you serving out of love? Or are you helping people because you expect a praise or a reward? Do you ask -like Jesus- “What do you want me to do?” Or is your motivation based on what you can get out of the situation/relationship? It’s time for a motivation check-up. Why do you serve? Or should I ask: Who do you serve?Don’t work to make yourself look good and try to flatter people, but act like slaves of Christ carrying out God’s will from the heart. (Eph. 6:6, CEB)

It’s very easy to slip into hypocrisy. It’s very easy to serve ourselves and use other people. It’s very easy to forget who is the King of the universe. That’s why we are called to examine our motives. Why do I serve? Do I do it out of love? Or do you I have selfish expectations?

“Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6: 1-4, CEB)

People can be fooled by Christian behavior but God sees our hearts and inner motivation. We need to remember that only God’s opinion counts. If we have selfish motivations we will never get that satisfaction we are after. We always want more, nothing satisfies. But if we serve our King, he will bless us according to our needs. God’s presence in our life is priceless. God is way more than enough!

Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say.
   “More, more.”
   I have God’s more-than-enough,
   More joy in one ordinary day
Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
   At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
   For you, God, have put my life back together.
(Psalm 4: 6-8, MSG)

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for calling us to check out our motives.
Show us what is not right in us.
Give us a clean heart
so we can serve you with all we’ve got.
Bless us according to our needs.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Why do you serve? Who do you serve?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you serve God with all you’ve got!
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Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment and mention that you’d like to win. The winners will be announced on Wednesdays! All these CEB give aways are possible because I am participating in the Common English Bible Blog tour from Ash Wednesday all the way to Pentecost. This means that I will mostly be using the Common English Bible (CEB) on my blog posts. Let’s check out this fresh new Bible translation!
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Image courtesy of Chris Schroeder. Linking up today with Brag on God Friday.