The affluent young man's refusal to abandon his wealth and follow Jesus apparently made quite an impression upon Peter. In Matthew 19:27, he said to Jesus, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" Jesus did not ignore Peter's question because it savored of the spirit of an hireling, but seized upon the occasion to set forth some basic principles of divine remuneration for service rendered the kingdom of God.
He used the parable of the householder to point out that those working for the kingdom do not earn their reward. As some of the workers were given a full day's wages for an hour's work, so God will give all who reach heaven a reward far beyond their fondest dreams or expectations. The reward will be so overwhelmingly generous, so far beyond anything they could have earned that they will not remember their most painful sacrifices and trials while they labored for Him on earth!
If then we cannot earn Heaven's rewards, what is the purpose of service? It is to help prepare us for heaven. This thought is emphasized in the book Education:
Those who reject the privilege of fellowship with Christ in service, reject the only training that imparts a fitness for participation with Him in His glory. They reject the training that in this life gives strength and nobility of character.—Page 264. (Italics supplied.)
Service then is God's provision to assist us in developing characters that will make us eligible for the kingdom. But not all service performed accomplishes this. Jesus points out in those frightening words found in Matthew 7:21-23 that "many" who have done wonderful deeds in the very name of Jesus will not be recognized by the Lord at all. What then are the characteristics of acceptable service. How may we engage in service for Christ so that it will give us "strength and nobility of character"?
Motive Determines Worth of Service
It is "not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done [that] makes it of value with God."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 397. It is not the amount of work we do, nor how it appears to others, but rather the motive with which it is done, that determines whether or not our service is acceptable to God. Why did we do it? The motive is an important characteristic of rewardable service. The alms given with selfish motives by the men mentioned by our Saviour in the sixth chapter of Matthew did not help them in getting ready for the kingdom. They but strengthened their selfishness and proved a curse to them! Mark tells how Jesus observed the worshipers in the Temple as they passed by the offering receptacle. The record states that He watched, not how much they gave, but how they gave (Mark 12:41). It was not the worth of the coin, but the motive of the heart that made the widow's gift so valuable in God's sight. Her deed was prompted by her love for God and her interest in His work. (See The Desire of Ages, p. 615.)
The question "Why did we do it?" seems to rank above every other consideration with God in judging the worth of our service. "Every act of our lives, whether excellent and praiseworthy, or deserving of censure, is judged by the Searcher of hearts according to the motives which prompted it."—Gospel Workers, p. 275. (Italics supplied.) This is true, not only as far as the amount of service is concerned, but also as to the importance of the service.
Stanley Baldwin once said, "All my life I have believed from my heart the words of
Browning, 'All service ranks the same with God.' It makes little difference whether a man is driving a tramcar, or sweeping streets, or being prime minister, if he only brings to that service everything that is in him, and performs it for the sake of mankind."
A second characteristic of acceptable service is entire unselfishness. We are told that:
In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. . . . Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God.—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 402.
Judging by the last sentence in this quotation, I'm very sure that for many of the days of my ministry I have not been recognized as a worker for God. Think of it, brethren. Our service for God, no matter how much we accomplish or how important it may seem, may be just as worthless as that of the Hindu fakir on his bed of nails! It is sad to recall that the vast majority of Gideon's army were rejected by God because they were filled with self. Even though there were many thousands of them, because of their preoccupation with themselves they "would add no strength to the armies of Israel."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 548.
Love-impelled Service
If Christian service is to be acceptable to God and is to assist in giving "strength and-nobility of character" to the performer, the condition of his heart is of major importance. Not only must it be entirely unselfish; it must be full of heaven-sent love. "He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 402. This points up sharply the difference between "duty-driven" and "love-impelled" service. The former is not recognized by God and actually serves to fasten us more securely in our selfishness. How often I must be reminded that not all service done in the name of Jesus counts—either for Him or for me! "Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good."—The Desire of Ages, p. 362. Our labors will be effective only if prompted by love, surcharged with prayer, and done faithfully as unto God. Service that overflows from a heart full of heavenly love builds the principles of the kingdom of God in human character.
The true concern of acceptable service is motivated by loving compassion. "When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them" (Matt. 9:36). This great motivating force reached its zenith in the bleeding heart of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. How He longed for some way to escape the terrible ordeal! How strong was the temptation to return to heaven!
But now the history of the human race comes up before the world's Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. . . . He sees the power of sin. . . . He will save man at any cost to Himself.—The Desire of Ages, pp. 690, 693.
The Compassionate Attitude
I shall be eternally grateful that my Saviour cared that much for me then, and that He cares for me now! His concern cost Him His life. He even risked His eternal life to save me, so great was His compassion. This same compassionate attitude must characterize my service if it is to be acceptable. The criticism voiced by some of our people with regard to both those laymen and workers who they feel often show little or no concern for the spiritual welfare of their fellow men is doubtless justified. This curse of selfish indifference has long been a trial to God and man. David cried, "No man cared for my soul" (Ps. 142:4). Could it be that some for whom we labor feel that way about us? God forbid!
Perhaps the psalmist has accurately summarized the characteristics of acceptable service in the sixth verse of the 126th psalm: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Going forth means spending much of our time and energy trying to help those in need. It means foregoing comfort, protection, and security to labor in a world of woe, of strife, of greed, of selfishness, of impurity and godlessness. It may mean sacrifice, being misunderstood, being mistreated, and even death.
The weeping sower sows the precious seed in the highways and in the byways prayerfully, compassionately, faithfully, longingly. Why? Not for the praise of men; not for personal honor or position; not to surpass what others have done. He labors long and hard and cheerfully because of his inner overflowing heart of love. He is impelled by no other reason. When these qualities characterize our service we shall not be spending much time wondering about "What shall we have?" Such service God will bless with the twofold reward of winning other souls for His kingdom and of saving by His infinite grace all who serve. How wonderful God is! He gives us the opportunity to serve; He provides the power and wisdom which make our service fruitful—and then He rewards us as if the merit were our own (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 361). How grateful we should be for this plan of God's marvelous grace whereby man is not only redeemed himself but is granted the high honor of rendering service to God and his fellow men, which further fits him for the citizenship of heaven.
"Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?" (1 Chron. 29:5).
