We are servants of God because we are sons of God: sons first, then servants. In this there is no bondage, but privilege and comfort. Yoked with the Lord Jesus, the perfect Servant, we find rest and blessing, for His yoke is easy, and His burden light.
True service flows from known relationship and communion. We doubt not the divine order is peace, communion, and service. Every question of conscience as to our eternal blessings must be settled, in order to have peace with God. The conscience must be purged with the blood of Christ to have no more conscience of sins. We must know Christ before we can live Christ. We must be consciously children of God before we can walk as children. Then communion with the Father and the Son can be enjoyed, and from it willing and happy service can flow.
A great deal, however, that in our day is called the service of God, is found, when judged by the light of scripture, to be not true service. How many, for instance, sincerely think they are serving the Lord in begging money from the unsaved, in order to meet the expenses incurred in carrying out missionary and other efforts? Now, scripture not only enjoins us to come out from among unbelievers, and to be separate, but most pointedly commends primitive Christians, because “they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, for his name’s sake.” (3 John 1:77Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. (3 John 7)) Other examples of what passes for service among us, equally opposed to the teaching of scripture, might be given, but this instance suffices for our present purpose. The fact is, we need exercise of conscience over the written word of God, in dependence on the Holy Ghost, in order to learn what the Lord’s will is as to our service. It is one thing to be engaged in service, and another to serve acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
We serve the Lord Christ, because He loved us, and gave Himself for us. But if service becomes our object, instead of the Lord, we shall certainly fail, and most likely break down. Who has not seen unhappy examples of this, or sorrowfully proved it in his own experience? If the eye of our heart be on our service, however scriptural, instead of the Lord, we shall be taken off the spring of real strength, and therefore be going on in the energy of nature, instead of in the power of faith. We should “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” We have no other strength; therefore it is written, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee.” All our resources are in Him. To make service, then, our object, is to be away from the Lord, and then our service will be continued in mere routine and dead formality, or we shall break down, and it be given up. The perfect Servant could say, “I have set Jehovah always before me,” and “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (Psalm 16:88I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8); John 4:3434Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34).)
It is blessedly true, however, that all believers are servants, that we all have our work given to us till He come. He gave to every man his work. He called His ten servants, and delivered unto them ten pounds (to each a pound), and said unto them, “Occupy till I come.” Each member of the body of Christ has his work. “To everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ;” and the edification of the whole body depends on the faithfulness of each. We have all, then, our work; but what the character and measure of it may be, the Lord who has given it can alone make known, and to those who wait upon Him, He will do it. Having learned what the service He has appointed us is, we should then give ourselves to it with diligence, for His glory. We read of some who “addicted themselves” to their ministry, and so should we. Such know their entire dependence on the Lord, and, like the apostles, they give themselves to prayer, and to their ministry. They count upon God for blessing, and they cannot be confounded. There is a definiteness of purpose and action, and they look for definite results. They cleave to the Lord, and reckon upon Him.
Perhaps nothing more really shows the stunted and feeble condition of many Christians, than the pointless, objectless character of their activities. An occasional servant, and desultory service, seem to be unknown in the epistles. On the contrary, we are exhorted to be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).) In the same epistle, the apostle had previously given them much instruction as to the various gifts and operations of the Holy Ghost, and now, when unfolding to them the mystery of the change at the coming of our Lord (which must always remind us of our opportunities for serving the Lord in this evil world, soon drawing to a close), he admonishes us to be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
Having, then, learned from the Lord our place in the body, and the line of service with which He has so graciously entrusted us, we should attend to it with all diligence—“be steadfast.” Day by day we should industriously pursue our course. We should pray and work, and work and pray. Looking to the Lord, and cleaving to Him with purpose of heart, He will guide and control us, as He did those who “assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not.” We may be flattered by some, treated coldly by others, tempted and buffeted by Satan, liable to be despondent at the trials the service involves, or to be puffed up at our success, but withal we should be “unmovable.” Our service, too, cannot cease while here. Serving the Lord, and fighting the good fight of faith, continue to the end. Nor is it the Lord’s mind that our ministrations should be few, but abundant, We should use our opportunities well, redeem the time, bring forth fruit in its season, bear much fruit, be “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
Perhaps we have been conscious of much that passes among us for the service of the Lord, which will not bear the scrutinizing test of the word of God, and we may have also observed how much the work of the Lord has been hindered by human arrangements, systematic plans, and organizations; but have not many who have deeply felt these things fallen into the opposite extreme of mere desultory work, and doing very little in the Lord’s service? This calls for much solemn self-examination and self-judgment. The Lord’s work has a two-fold aspect—one, in reference to the children of God: the other, toward the unconverted. Every believer is more or less qualified for both; for he has his place of living activity as a member of the body of Christ for the edification of the body, and he has to confess Christ before men. We should not, therefore, fail to deal most unsparingly with ourselves, day by day, as to what may be the character and measure of our service. Have I labored fervently in prayer for the saints, especially for my neighbors, whose edification and good I am enjoined to seek? Am I today (yes, today) practically filling up my place in the body, in steadfast and abounding service to the Lord?
Have I set the gospel before sinners? Have I given tracts to any? Have I used my means, my gifts, my talents in faithfulness to the Lord Jesus this day, as occupying till He come? We cannot deal with ourselves too severely on these points, or perhaps too tenderly or graciously with others. Each must begin with himself, if we would really see “the work of the Lord” prosper. Not one day should pass without our being a channel of blessing to others. Christianity is the opposite of selfishness. We know that Jesus “pleased not himself.”
No one can be in a healthy state of soul who is not, in some way or other, having fellowship with our Lord Jesus in the gospel; for He loved sinners, preached to sinners, prayed for His sinful murderers, died for the ungodly, shed His blood for sinners, and now sends forth His servants with the message, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Many who will read these lines are, we are assured, diligent and earnest servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. But all should be; and how can it be brought about? Only by souls entering into the perfect love of God to them in Christ, and, in prayer and faith, going forth as constrained by divine love to do His will, and to glorify Him, in hope of His coming.
But it must be the Lord’s work, not man’s religiousness, not human pretension, nor mere educational activity, but obedience to the Lord’s word, thorough subjection to His will, as led by the Spirit of God. These things characterize a true servant, a follower of Him who said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 7:3838He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38).) May the Lord give us grace thus to serve, remembering His gracious words, “ If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” (John 12:2626If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. (John 12:26).)
Moreover, let us ponder the inspired assurance, “Forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” How encouraging and full of comfort! We know it is not in vain if “in the Lord.” There is not room for a doubt or a misgiving as to the result, if we can assure our hearts that our labor is in the Lord. And surely, if it be so, we must have the Lord before us as the One whose glory we seek, whose will we do, whose word we keep! We shall be abiding in the Lord, drawing from Him, leaning upon Him, going forward in His strength, and by His grace led by the Spirit of God. We shall be dependent, prayerful, obedient, and to such it can truly be said, “Forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”