Giving and Serving
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2 Corinthians 5:14)
I love the story of Hudson Taylor when he was interviewing possible candidates for missionary work. During the interview process, he asked each of these young people, “Why do you want to become a missionary?”
One of them answered, “I just want to be a missionary because there are so many lost people in the world, and I want to carry the Gospel all the way to the remote lands to share Jesus.” Hudson looked at him and said, “That's a great thought, but that will not be enough to allow you to sustain ministry.”
Many people get into ministry and then drop out of ministry. They start to serve, but suddenly they back out of the ministry. Many people become deacons, then take a step back. What will keep you serving? What will keep you teaching? What will keep you giving your life in order to do ministry? It was true for Hudson Taylor and it should be true of us. The Scripture says,
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)
In other words, the only thing that will keep you committed to the ministry is the love of Christ. This love will compel you to serve when you don't want to serve, or even when you do. The motivational factor is the love relationship with Jesus that is present in your life.
If you have accepted Jesus and experienced His love, you know that being a giver means giving all of yourself for Christ’s sake. The Scripture says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
Will you choose to live your life as a giver and a server because you’ve received Christ’s love?
I love the story of Hudson Taylor when he was interviewing possible candidates for missionary work. During the interview process, he asked each of these young people, “Why do you want to become a missionary?”
One of them answered, “I just want to be a missionary because there are so many lost people in the world, and I want to carry the Gospel all the way to the remote lands to share Jesus.” Hudson looked at him and said, “That's a great thought, but that will not be enough to allow you to sustain ministry.”
Many people get into ministry and then drop out of ministry. They start to serve, but suddenly they back out of the ministry. Many people become deacons, then take a step back. What will keep you serving? What will keep you teaching? What will keep you giving your life in order to do ministry? It was true for Hudson Taylor and it should be true of us. The Scripture says,
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)
In other words, the only thing that will keep you committed to the ministry is the love of Christ. This love will compel you to serve when you don't want to serve, or even when you do. The motivational factor is the love relationship with Jesus that is present in your life.
If you have accepted Jesus and experienced His love, you know that being a giver means giving all of yourself for Christ’s sake. The Scripture says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
Will you choose to live your life as a giver and a server because you’ve received Christ’s love?
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2 Comments
The love of Christ is what keeps me serving. I thought I retired twice but when I look back, I never did. There is always something to do to be serving others for God's kingdom. He always finds something for me to do
Amen.ðŸ™