Why We Serve the Lord

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Why We Serve the Lord

 

Let’s begin today’s lesson by reading a brief passage of scripture from the Book of Job.
Job 1:9-10

In this scripture, Job’s motivations for serving God were being questioned by Satan. Satan stated his opinion that Job only served God because God gave him riches and protection. This ultimately proved to be untrue,  but it also raises the question of our own motivations for serving God. Do we serve God only because we are afraid of Hell? Do we serve God only for the reward of Heaven? Or are there other motivations for serving God that are just as equally valid? That’s what our lesson today is going to be focused on. 

 

First, we serve God because of love. 

I John 4: 19

 

We love God because He first loved us. This involves the idea of returning something that is given to us. His love for us is why we love Him. He gave us life. He provides for us. He saved us. He protects us. He hears us. 

 

Love for God is the greatest commandment. 

Matthew 22: 36 - 38

John 14: 23

Love is why we serve the Lord.

 

We serve the Lord because of our gratitude to Him for all He has done. 

I Timothy 1: 12 - 17

 

We are thankful to Him for everything. We serve Him for more than our fear of punishment or our hope of reward. We serve Him because we appreciate His blessings that are bestowed on us. We must alway remember that failure to be thankful will lead us away from God eventually.

Romans 1: 21 - 23

 

This is seen in the question Jesus asked about the nine.

Luke 17: 11 - 19

We serve God because we are grateful to Him for all that He has done for us. 

 

We serve God because of the reverence we feel for Him. 

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 - 14

 

To fear God means to revere Him. It is completely linked to obedience. We must recognize the power of God. We must recognize the perfection of God. We must recognize the worthiness of God to be praised by us. 

Revelation 4: 11

Revelation 5: 11 - 14

 

This is the same respect that most children eventually develop toward their parents. When we fully understand Who God is and What God does, then we will begin to revere Him. 

 

We serve God because of the reverence we have for Him. 

 

We serve God because of our hope for reward.

I Peter 1: 3 - 5

 

It is not wrong to say that we serve God for the reward that awaits us in the after life. Heaven is our inheritance. It is a place of total bliss. There will be no more death. There will be no more sorrow. There will be no more crying. There will be no more pain. 

Revelation 21: 4

 

It is the complete and absolute contrast with our own experiences in this world that gives us this hope. 

Romans 8: 18

 

Earthly parents us the same motivations, like giving ice cream if their kids act right. Employers use the same motivation, like giving raises, bonuses, and promotions to their productive workers.

We serve God because of our hope for the reward.

 

We serve God because we fear the punishment that awaits those who do not serve Him.

Matthew 10: 28

 

It is not wrong to say that we serve God because we don’t want to go to hell. Parents use this type of motivation, such as spanking their child or taking away privileges from them if they are disobedient. Civil law uses this type of motivation when it uses fines or imprisonment for those who violate it.

What Jesus teaches us is that we should not fear this earthly punishment at all. Instead, we should fear the divine punishment of God. 

Luke 12: 4 - 5

 

The prospect of eternal punishment is frightening, and it should motivate us to serve God.

Matthew 25: 46

Mark 9: 42 - 48

 

We serve God because we fear the punishment in store for those who do not. 

 

From our lesson today we have seen several valid reasons for serving God. We serve God because we love Him. We serve God because we are thankful for all that He does and has done for us. We serve God because we hold Him in awe and reverence. We serve God because of the promised reward for that service. We serve God because of our fear of the punishment in store for those who do not serve Him. In fact, there is not one single reason at all that I can find for not serving Him.