I recently received this
Listening to people, I hear often repeated phrases and clichés; many of which are spoken with little thought or understanding of what is being said. “Saved to serve” is one of the most common. What does that even mean? And how are we affected if we believe it’s true?
Many believers feel frustrated and overwhelmed by “church work”. If we really are saved simply to serve God, why isn’t service more satisfying?
Physical and emotional burnout is a problem that crosses denominational lines. Burn-out is increasingly prevalent among pastors and others who maintain church programs in western culture, and often results from the false belief that our reason for existing and receiving salvation is to do God’s work.
Those struggling with burn-out reluctantly acknowledge they became involved in “church-work” because they believed the busier they are in church activities, the “happier” God will be; the more they pray and witness, the better God will “like” them. The obvious problem is that there is no way to measure when “enough” has been done to be confident of God’s desired approval. So they work harder still, offering “service” that becomes a grinding, burdensome duty, and produces resentment toward God and the people they “serve”.
This doesn’t mean that everyone who works hard in a church program is trying to earn God’s approval, or that no one should work hard! It does mean that each one needs to assess motives and priorities as we quietly hear from the Lord. If we say “yes” to any task because: (1) “If I don’t, ‘they’ will think I don’t do my part” or (2) “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done”, then perhaps the task needs to be left undone.
Programs and dissatisfied grumbling have existed since New Testament times. Acts 6 describes the Feed The Widows program established in the Jerusalem church. The Hellenistic Jews reacted with irritation, believing the Hebrew widows were being preferentially treated. The response was to choose seven men of proven character, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to serve tables anddistributethefoodfairly. Imagine!Thenecessary credentials for the “menial” task of serving tables were character and wisdom, motivated by the infilling power of the Spirit!
Believing we are “saved to serve” inevitably produces feverish self-effort and burn-out. Knowing we are saved simply to receive the love of God, and share that love with others through the infilling of the Holy Spirit energizes us to offer joyful acts of service without burning out.
The mission pf the Body of Christ is to promote relationship with Jesus, not programs. Wisdom asks, “Does this program and my part in it promote knowing Jesus intimately?” If not, we can cheerfully say “no”.
In Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 1:28-29 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul describes his motivation for ministry: So just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now, much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…. we proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ, striving according to His power, which mightily works within us…the love of Christ urges and impels us…He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.
Earthly life is meant to be a meaningful partnership with God Himself!
Dr. Dixie For questions and answers: Infinite Grace Ministries P.O. Box 466 Weatherford, OK 73096 580-774-2884 Facebook:Infinite Grace Ministries
