Being Fruitful
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Posted: February 20, 2021
Author: Coria Brock Matthew 6:24, NIV “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” |
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Aren’t these words from Jesus clear to us, “You cannot serve both God and money”? It is clear to me, I cannot serve by the name of Jesus, but also seek money (a reward from this world).
I do not deny any words that are written in the Bible, which is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Every person who works and makes effort should be paid for it, and this is the responsibility of those who employee them. According to 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (ESV) the Bible tells us, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” If the servants of God are doing their work as God appointed them to do, who is the one who is responsible to reward them? Is it not clear that it is their master, God Himself?!
God commanded His people to bring their gifts to the temple and share them with those who serve (Isaiah 9:6) and He also instructed us to give tithes to His house (Malachi 3:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7). However He has emphasized, “God loves a cheerful giver”, so this is about obedience to God and our offerings demonstrate the love we have for God. Likewise, when we serve Him we should never serve thinking about what we may gain from it, we should serve with a giving and cheerful heart.
Paul showed us how he worked with his hands (Acts 18:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:11) saying, “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:12, NIV) Did he have much time while he was doing the work God called him to do? Was the work God called him to do for the name of Jesus easy? We all should know the answers quite well, it is not. Rather, he said, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, NIV) He sold himself fully out to Christ, his Lord. How about you? This is a question for you to wrestle with.
Take another look, does God intend to have His servants do His work without help?
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women…and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:1-3, NIV)
Does Jesus ever ask them to give to Him while He is doing His Father’s will on earth? What is the teaching Jesus has for them about giving? I believe the core message is this, “Give what you have been blessed with, because more blessed is the one who gives than the one who receives” (Acts 20:35). It is not about what He can gain from them, it is about giving what others need with a loving heart. Jesus Himself said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58, NIV) O our loving God, He does not stop His work or is distracted from what He has been called to do.
At last, I urge you servant of God by this scripture, “So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables…and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-4, NIV) May God give you wisdom and strength in all that you are being called to do.
