There was a father who had two sons. The oldest son served his father imagining the great inheritance that would someday be his, for his father was very wealthy. The youngest son served his father, simply because he loved his father, and never dreamed of what he might or might not inherit. If the father knew the hearts of the two sons, who would he be more willing to bless? So many of us Christians today are serving God, so that we will go to Heaven, or to get one step further from hell. We appear to the rest of the world as confused hypocrits, We serve God because we want something from Him. Do you agree we need to start serving God, out of love simply for who and what God is? God has already saved us through the sacrifice of Christ, so stop the trying to "make it on your own" stuff! We are saved by grace---which means "undeserved favor" if it is undeserved you cannot deserve or earn it, it is done for you. Who wants to love God and not just His rewards?
2006-12-09 00:28:38 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wow. This is a great realization. You have a great point. I believe God had warned us of times like this in many scriptures. You really have a message from God and I hope it will awaken us all to think about our intentions...after all that is what God will judge us on....not what we do but rather why we do what we do. Amen Brother. Peace & Love to you.
2006-12-09 00:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by Shayna 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The hope of the servant of God that he will receive a reward is not selfishness. For a true view and proper understanding of God, a person must know that loving-kindness and generosity are outstanding qualities of God; the individual must believe not only that God is but also “that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” (Heb 11:6) Hope keeps the Christian minister balanced and in God’s service, knowing that Jehovah will provide his daily needs. The apostle Paul points this out, drawing on the principles set forth in the Law. Paul quotes the law at Deuteronomy 25:4: “You must not muzzle a bull while it is threshing.” He then adds: “Really for our sakes it was written, because the man who plows ought to plow in hope and the man who threshes ought to do so in hope of being a partaker.”—1Co 9:9, 10.
Interestingly, Peter, a disciple of Jesus, asked Jesus straight out if there would be a reward for him and for his fellow apostles: “Look! We have left all things and followed you; what actually will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27) Jesus did not consider the question inappropriate but gave a positive answer, saying: “Everyone that has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive many times more and will inherit everlasting life.”—Matthew 19:29.
2006-12-09 09:25:09 · answer #2 · answered by Livin In Myrtle Beach SC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! your right on the Money. we tend to serve God like he will increase our allowance if we do someting for him. I have always heard people say that christians only serve God because they want another notch on their belt. I belive this comes from the fact that there is a large misunderstanding of the Gospel. we have forsakem the use of the law to show man the utter severity of his/her sin. when they realize this, they will understand that their depraved condititon cannot simply be "fixed" by balancing out there good and bad by works. they will realize the God of the BIble must have Justice, and upon only Jesus, can they cling and hold any hope of salvation. does this mean we shouldn't serve God? NO, however rather than serving God out of guilt, we will serve him out of gratitude. thats why it is so important that we present the Gospel correctly. I firmly belive that Bibilical evangelism is without exception Law to the proud and grace to the humble.
God Bless
WDJD
2006-12-09 08:45:55 · answer #3 · answered by WDJD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My opinion only, but those who serve God just to avoid hell don't really serve God, for the service begins in the heart through love.
I have been a Christian for many years and haven't thought about hell (other than to try and help those who have questions about it) for a long time. It just doesn't exist for me, I know that I'm going to Heaven because God knows my heart and it longs for Him.
My heart longs for Him not because I want to get the reward of being in Heaven, but because the more I know Him, the more wonderful He is! His love for us is so intense and deep, it's almost scary! lol
2006-12-09 08:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would be the ideal for sure.
There was once a Saint who begged God to cool off hell, and set fire to heaven so that we may love God only.
Would you be willing to destroy heaven and hell, and want only to be with God, and forgo your reward, and let the wretched go unpunished?
I have no idea if I would or not. But perhaps I should work to that end. Peace and Soul!
2006-12-09 08:37:52 · answer #5 · answered by ThatGuy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God made each and everyone of us to be and live good lives. Its the experiences of this life which leads some down the wrong path. God made us all to His image and likeness. You see the same thing in children, when they are very little they do good and we admire them, when our lives get busy the little good things they do go unnoticed and they have to resort to other things to become noticed again. Then it takes more and more bad habits to get our attention. God notices all our acts, from the time we were conceived to the time He calls us home. He is a great God and loves us unconditionally, not like human love. He loved me first. This is why I love my God.
2006-12-09 09:36:56 · answer #6 · answered by lwibby 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work on developing a relationship with God for the benefits I get in the here and now. Faith in God gets us through troubling times. I don't even think about Heaven or Hell.
2006-12-09 08:33:51 · answer #7 · answered by Vicki B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you have some good insight here with maybe one caution. Human love is very unpredictable and by its very nature of coming from the human nature it is self centered. Love of God is not really what leads us to spiritual maturity, although it is one of the things that the contemporary church has gotten into. Listen closely to this verse in 1 John: "Herein is love NOT THAT WE LOVE GOD, but that He loves us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." The power in Christ lies in our undersanding of how great God's love is for us. You can be 100% sure that our love will fail, but your faith that His will never fail is our security. Peter thought his love of Christ whould holdhim, until he denied Christ three times.
2006-12-09 08:42:23 · answer #8 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Amen. Salvation is a gift available to everyone. Lets not forget that works are rewarded. I love God for who he is and one must have a personal relationship with God.All works will be tested by fire.Loving God comes from knowing God which comes from seeking him.
2006-12-09 08:37:02 · answer #9 · answered by djmantx 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We all go through some stuff here. But what is sure, if seek Him, we will find Him. He has promised that He will never leave us alone. We are here to help each other out. God wants our hearts, and when we give our hearts to Him and ask Holy Spirit to guide us, we want to do what He wants from us.
If we suffer here, He has the whole eternity to make it up to us.
2006-12-09 08:34:37 · answer #10 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋