And if we are required to serve God selflessly, how is that different from what a good slave is supposed to want?
2006-08-25 00:50:49 · 15 answers · asked by bobkgin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Kingdom Child: I have heard some Christians talk of serving God from the point of view of what they get out of it. They serve because they profit from it.
But a good slave is supposed to serve selflessly, seeking only the best interests of his or her master/mistress.
Does God not call upon us to serve His will only, and not our own at all?
Matt 26:42 "...O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
2006-08-25 01:07:36 · update #1
I have heard this too, and if totally honest, there is no way to deny that serving God has benefits. Maybe I can help you know how it is for me, though I can't speak for others.
Think of the someone you love more than anyone else. Your love for them surely motivates you to try to bring them pleasure...not for what you hope will be your reward from them but because you love them with a deep love...more deeply than anyone else. Even if it causes you hardships, you wouldn't want to avoid them if it meant not doing your very best for the one you love, true? So in this way, service is selfless. You are focused on pleasing/ helping/doing for....
Now, it is also true that the feeling of satisfaction that one gets from doing for another is an outcome of service. So that could become a motivation for some if the desired good feeling became the primary reason for serving, rather than a very pleasant perk.
When it comes to God, serving him does NOT earn the rewards of His love, nor eternity in heaven. Anyone who serves Him in this way, does not curry favor with Him, nor become righteous in His eyes. His love is unconditional...that is with _No condition_!
So it is possible to serve God selfishly...as for it being sin? I am unsure...I guess I would suspect it would depend on whether the person were aware of their error. Not my place to judge other than myself.
Hope this clarifies what it's like for me.
Peace and grace to you, bobkgin.
2006-08-25 00:58:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
To serve God is a human action that can't be compared to anything else, so, given that it is real, it can not be a sin and it can also not be selfish.
Selflessly serving God is different from being a slave because you can only be a slave to another man, not to something divine. The whole Man-to-God relationship is completely uncompairable to any Man-to-Man relationship - this is one of things that make a difference between Man and God. And if we don't make that difference, then it would be completely absurd to talk about God like we're talking about a human being. Why would we then even say 'God' when we can easilly say 'Man'?
2006-08-25 07:59:55 · answer #2 · answered by Uros I 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let's use the world evil act, instead of 'sin', since sins are defined by the Bible as very specific actions, and some very evil acts depicted in the Bible are not considered sins. One can perform evil acts in the interest of oneself, and one can perform evil acts in the name of God. Therefore, you can see that selfishness is not the root of all evil.
The real question then is, what is evil? I submit that evil is willingly harming another when such harm could be avoided. Can anyone think of an evil act that doesn't fit this criteria?
Notice it doesn't include any religion or God or any higher power. If it doesn't hurt anyone, then why should it be considered wrong? This is a universal truth, as far as I can tell...
2006-08-25 08:10:02 · answer #3 · answered by 006 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Serving God selfishly at the expense of other matters that need our attention can be sinful; neglect of family, job and health are examples. God wants Christians to be well rounded in physical, mental and spiritual activities.
2006-08-25 08:03:41 · answer #4 · answered by tigranvp2001 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not selfishness that's the root of sin it's pride and the two can sometimes be quite similar but there's a difference.
"I will not serve" was Satans cry as he rose up against God and His plan.
Ther's also a healthy self-love "taking care of yourself" and one unhealthy: egotism.
Some say you can long for heaven in 2 ways too, one because it will be bliss to you the other because you love God and want to be united to Jesus.
Everything that's good for you or to must not mean it's egotist or selfish.
2006-08-25 08:27:18 · answer #5 · answered by zorro 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Says who human selfishness is the root of all sin?
According to Bible, the first sin is committed because
1. Man doubted God's intention and love: they suspect He is hiding good things from them.
2. Man wanted to be his own master. "You will be like God" was the temptation dished out by the serpent (Ge3:5)
Imagine your son call you a slave-driver because of all the boundaries you set for his safety and welfare. "Did you born me to be your slave, to satisfy your ego?" Any father's heart can be broken by these words.
And God is our Heavenly Father.
2006-08-25 08:10:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
selfishness is to do what benefits you with no regard for others around you . To do something selflessly is to give of your self. that dose not make you a slave but it may set you free
2006-08-25 08:07:57 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a great question, because it makes me think that some truly serve God for what they "think" they are going to get.....
My Grandfather had a position in the Assembly of God church and one day he showed up at my dad's house with a button on his lapel that was scribed, "I got mine." He had gotten it from the church.....
My dad was so incensed by that mentality of that selfishness...
2006-08-25 08:04:30 · answer #8 · answered by Denise W 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sin is when you heart separates from God and what He wants in your life. It is a joy and pleasure to serve God. Great reward too.
2006-08-25 07:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the idea to serve anyone is to unselfishly serve them... If I received nothing for my faith and following that would be just fine. However fortunately He does bless me greatly.
2006-08-25 07:57:32 · answer #10 · answered by schr91 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋