Ever notice how advertisers always have to come up with a new gimick to get people to buy the same old things? It’s not enough to simply explain the benefits of a certain product. King Solomon, the wisest mortal man ever to be born, said:
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (my emphasis) – Ecclesiastes 1:9
In other words, there’s really no such thing as “something new.” But people have to be constantly entertained with new things, so clever advertisers have to find ways to wrap up the same old things in glitzy new packaging with to make us take notice. Some of us might be tempted to buy a plain old box of Kleenex for three times the price if they called it “Tactical Kleenex!”
Unfortunately, the lie that Satan told Eve in Genesis 3:1-5 is still told today; it’s just packaged and marketed in a way that appeals to people as something revolutionary, new, great, and wonderful.
A man who is steadfast in his devotion to God will be truly committed to doing the right thing, no matter if it seems “old fashioned” or “out of date,” or if his friends think he’s a fanatic. God’s Truth never changes. What changes is our fickle hearts! You can’t even trust your own!
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
The Danger:
There is a popular movement these days that says in order to live a happy, propserous, and contented life, then you must serve Jesus! That sure sounds good. What could be wrong with serving Jesus? There is a very fundamental problem with that philosophy because the motive of the heart is wrong.
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” – Philippians 1:20
See Paul’s motive? That Christ would be magnified and honored.
A person’s motive for what they do is very important. We can err by doing wrong things for the right reasons; right things for the wrong reasons; and wrong things for the wrong reasons.
The Bible does not teach that our purpose for serving Jesus should be in order for us to gain happiness, wealth, health, or prosperity. It says that our only purpose for our very existence is to bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ, even if it is through our own deaths! The Apostle Paul knew very well what it meant to serve Jesus. And his purpose for serving Jesus was not for him to find happiness, fulfillment, or proseperity:
“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes [lashes with a whip] save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
The Bible says:
“And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23
Paul knew that the costly persecutions he suffered for Christ would be counted as his own personal blessings and gifts to his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Himself.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12
But serving our Lord and Saviour is what we are supposed to do. It’s called being obedient unto death!
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” -Philippians 2:8
And the rewards for our faithful obedience and service are surely worth it!
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:12
What about you? What is your purpose? Are you driven to serve Jesus to gain happiness and personal fulfillment; or are you willing to take up your cross, be a genuine Christian, serve, and glorify the Lord, even if it must be accomplished through the world’s rejection of you, rejection by friends or family, or even through your death?
Suggested Follow-Up Studies:
On Evidence – Part I
On Evidence – Part II
On Spiritual Growth – Part I
On Spiritual Growth – Part II
I would enjoy hearing from you!
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