What Is The Good Of Serving God?
Good Morning Friends,
In today’s lectionary selection God is addressing disappointed and disillusioned people who accuse God of being unfair. We got a sense of the situation in the story of Jonah and now an echo of this problem from the book of Malachi. People are bitterly frustrated and begin to speak against God. But the writer is clear. God is still in control and still loves people that follow the way of righteousness. God says that we are like children and belong to God as treasured possessions. We may even feel special and realize that there are rewards in our character in living a Christian life. But sometimes even the religious will have doubts and can become cynical and ask: What Is The Good Of Serving God?
Scripture: You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against you?” You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of hosts? Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.” Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
Malachi 3:13-20b (NRSV)
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:5-13 (NRSV)
Message: Growing up as children we learn that there are rewards and punishments in life. And ultimately, we must decide if the consequences are worth it all. People will have doubts about becoming righteous because some people seem to be blessed with the benefits of the world without following the Way of God. Thankfully
God considers us as jewels and of great value to be gathered together when Jesus comes again. But until then we are to believe that God has our best interests at heart. We are to believe that God wants us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of a moral and spiritual order. We get the sense of this benefit of the Christian life in passage from Luke. If the righteous children of God ask God, the benefits of God’s love will become clear.
Pray we have hope in belonging to God. Pray our requests are not deceptive, perverse, unkind or abusive but reflect a righteousness that is also empowered by God’s goodwill for us. Pray therefore we respond to God with reverence and grace and persistence and purpose. Pray we serve God with courage and righteousness. Pray our sanctification is completed so we might inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for us and thereby glorify God. Pray we love God apart from the fear of punishment and the hope of rewards. Pray we live a life that honors God. Pray we ask for God’s Kingdom to come and the jewels of the King’s crown be as the members of the saints of the church universal. Pray we are remembered as the faithful treasure of God forever.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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