KEY TEXT: “Every follower of Jesus has a work to do as a missionary for Christ, in the family, in the neighborhood, in the town or city where he lives. All who are consecrated to God are channels of light. God makes them instruments of righteousness to communicate to others the light of truth.” – Christian Service, Page 18.2, Ellen G. White.
Does giving your skills and talents to do God’s work have blessings? Is volunteering to do duties in church beneficial?
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (KJV) – “20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”
As Christians, we are called upon to return tithes and offerings and to engage our skills and talents in the service of God. King Hezekiah returned tithes and offerings. He was also involved in the service of the house of God. Hezekiah did all his services in God’s house with all his heart. Some Christians will do certain services that they have been given excellently and do others mediocrely. The Bible says he did it with all his heart, and as a result, he prospered. There is prosperity in God’s service. There are blessings when we use our talents and skills to advance the kingdom of God. Through Hezekiah, while God’s service became successful, he also became successful.
To a greater or less degree, all are placed in charge of the talents of their Lord. The spiritual, mental, and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections, sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the Master for the salvation of souls for whom Christ died. — Counsels on Stewardship, Page 117.2, Ellen G. White.
Revelation 7:15 (KJV) – “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” This verse tells us that God dwells among people who serve Him all the time. It is a tremendous blessing when God dwells among you because you are assured of ultimate protection (Psalm 91:1). You are assured of benefits in all areas of your life in this world (Deuteronomy 28:1-13), and you are assured of eternal life (John 17:3). Service to God brings you closer to God. As a result, your purpose will be more clarified, you will have a sense of direction, and you will increase in grace and favor.
“The commission given to the disciples is given also to us. Today, as then, a crucified and risen Saviour is to be uplifted before those who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord calls for pastors, teachers, and evangelists. From door to door His servants are to proclaim the message of salvation. To every nation, kindred, tongue, and people the tidings of pardon through Christ are to be carried. Not with tame, lifeless utterances is the message to be given, but with clear, decided, stirring utterances. Hundreds are waiting for the warning to escape for their lives. The world needs to see in Christians an evidence of the power of Christianity. Not merely in a few places, but throughout the world, messages of mercy are needed.”—Gospel Workers, 29, Ellen G. White.
How to conduct God’s work to experience God’s blessings:
Serve the one and only true God
Mark 12:29-30 (KJV) – “29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
Many people complain that they have been returning tithes and offerings, giving their services to God, and are still not yet blessed. Maybe it is employment that they were looking for but still haven’t found it. Some might have been looking for a spouse but could not find one. The question is, are you worshipping the one and only true God? Our God is one Lord, and the way to heaven is one. The way to heaven is through Jesus Christ alone. John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” If you genuinely believe this, you will believe everything that Jesus says, and through His grace, try your best with His help to follow His words.
Pastor Randy Skeete says, “The most dangerous place you can be in is the wrong church, not a casino or a whorehouse but the wrong church.” As you give your service to God, are you giving it to the right channel? As you give your offerings to God, are you giving them to the right church? The right church is a church that uplifts Jesus. John 12:32 (KJV) – “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Principles from the Bible alone govern a church that uplifts Jesus. Do Biblical principles fully control your church? Matthew 15:8-9 (KJV) – “8 This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. 9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Not all worship directed to God is acceptable by God. Cain and Abel had gone to worship (sacrifice) to God, God accepted one and rejected the other. Many churches have knowingly or unknowingly placed human doctrines and traditions above God. God, in His grace and mercy, ends up blessing people in those churches because He sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:5). God is giving them time to learn the truth and convert.
A church that believes in Jesus believes that Jesus said in John 14:15 (KJV) – “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” Such a church acknowledges that it was the same Jesus who died on the cross who said in Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV) – “17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” A church that fully believes in Jesus believes that it was Jesus who inspired Paul to write in Romans 6:1-2 (KJV) – “1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” A church that believes in Jesus believes that it was Jesus who inspired John to write in Revelation 22:14 (KJV) – “14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
A church that believes in the true God is always in line with everything the Bible says. Therefore a church that believes in Jesus acknowledges that the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites in the Old Testament are still relevant in the New Testament to all professed believers.
“This principle we in our day are firmly to maintain. The banner of truth and religious liberty held aloft by the founders of the gospel church and by God’s witnesses during the centuries that have passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands. The responsibility for this great gift rests with those whom God has blessed with a knowledge of His Word. We are to receive this Word as supreme authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God’s word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for a “Thus saith the church” or a “Thus saith the state.” The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the diadems of earthly potentates.” –Gospel Workers, Page 389.2, Ellen G. White.
John 6:67-68 (KJV) – “67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Peter told Jesus, “We are sticking with You because of what You preach.” Jesus performed mighty miracles, but Peter didn’t tell Him they were sticking with Him because of the miracles He performed. Therefore, the right church is known by what it preaches because the devil can perform miracles, too (Matthew 24:24). The greatest proof that Jesus was the true One sent by God is that He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies, not miracles.
“When, in the midst of his blind error and prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting, he was placed in direct communication with the church, which is the light of the world. In this case, Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ’s ministers upon the earth, who are appointed to act in His stead. In Christ’s stead, Ananias touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ’s stead, he places his hands upon him, and as he prays in Christ’s name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 122, Ellen G. White.
You should read the Bible on your own to know whether you are in the right church. Listening to people preach physically or on YouTube is not enough. Reading this book is not enough. You need to study the Bible by yourself. Studying the Bible will make you know the will of God in your life. If you don’t take time to explore the Bible on your own, you are living a perilous life because you are putting yourself in the line of being deceived. If people studied the Bible, some churches with big congregations would be empty.
Glorify God when serving Him
1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Whatever we do, we should do it to the glory of God. That includes doing God’s work. Some people who serve in the church are not conducting their service to the glory of God. Some of them do work that seems admirable to the eyes of men, but deep down in their hearts, the glory of God does not come first. These actions weaken the church. John C. Maxwell says that it all rises and falls on leadership. Little faith from the church leadership is transmitted downward to the church members.
Like the scribes in Luke 7:29, sermons cease to have vigor and authority, and as a result, they do not produce a transforming effect when presented to the people. A church that is weak in faith may be packed to the brim in terms of attendance, but some attendees go for a social gathering, not for spiritual nourishment. They go to meet friends whom they can only meet in church. Some will attend church as if they are marking a school register. Some want to clear their conscience that they have gone to church and think that God is well pleased by doing so. That is why many have attended church for decades, but there is no display of real transformation in their character.
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV) – “22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” The Bible says many people shall do great things in the name of Jesus. They shall preach and convert people, sing, help the poor, heal people, and cast out demons, but they won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. The question is, were they doing all those things to the glory of God or the glory of themselves?
“As the rays of the sun penetrate to the remotest corners of the globe, so God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth. If the church of Christ were fulfilling the purpose of our Lord, light would be shed upon all that sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death.” — Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, Page 42, Ellen G. White.
“Those whom God has placed in positions of responsibility should never seek to exalt themselves or to turn the attention of men to their work. They must give all the glory to God. They must not seek for power that they may lord it over God’s heritage; for only those who are under the rule of Satan will do this.” – Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 279.3, Ellen G. White.
Serve God in accordance with His law
Those who endeavor to do their duties to God’s glory will do them according to God’s law. There are numerous instances where a church event is happening on Sabbath, and the church leadership authorizes cooking food on Sabbath to cater for that event. As much as they feed the church members and its visitors, they do not act according to God’s law. This behavior has been entertained to a point whereby some Sabbath-believing Christians even buy from restaurants on Sabbath. We should prepare everything for Sabbath on Friday. That is why Friday is called preparation day. That is the only way we will enjoy the full blessings of the Sabbath rest.
In the wilderness, God gave the Israelites commandments concerning food preparation. He told them not to cook on the Sabbath day but to cook the day before. Many of us cook on the Sabbath so that we can eat fresh food. Our need to fill our stomachs with quality fresh food comes before the need to obey God. God is the Creator of all the natural laws. He who created everything, including food (Genesis 1), and sustains everything in His creation can preserve food so that it does not rot. We will not see the true power of God in doing uncommon miracles in our lives if we do not act by faith and obey Him at His every word.
Exodus 16:23-26 (KJV) – “23 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” 24 So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 25 Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but there will be none on the seventh day, the Sabbath.”
There are particular churches around the globe that are so strict with Sabbath observance that they prefer to fast on Sabbath rather than cook. Fasting on Sabbath or eating less is more beneficial to the mind and body of an individual than feasting. Many sleep during sermons because of excessive eating. Truth is comprehended better when we eat less than when we eat more. Excessive eating causes the body to be tired and weary. Fasting gives the body more energy and vigor to stay alert and do more than in their regular eating routine. Fasting helps in cell regeneration, can cure various diseases, and has anti-aging benefits.
“Strict temperance in eating and drinking is highly essential for the healthy preservation and vigorous exercise of all the functions of the body. Strictly temperate habits, combined with exercise of the muscles as well as of the mind, will preserve both mental and physical vigor, and give power of endurance to those engaged in the ministry, to editors, and to all others whose habits are sedentary. As a people, with all our profession of health reform, we eat too much. Indulgence of appetite is the greatest cause of physical and mental debility, and lies at the foundation of the feebleness which is apparent everywhere.”—Testimonies for the Church 3:487 (1875), Ellen G. White.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (KJV) – “22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Obedience is better than sacrifice. God wants us to serve Him sacrificially. At the same time, He wants us to obey Him. Therefore while conducting our service, we should do our best to follow Him so that our service can be acceptable to Him. If we do that, we will please God, and God is a rewarder for those who please Him (Hebrews 11:6). This obedience will cause us to have a transforming power over other members of the church and even unbelievers. We will contribute to the coming of the latter rain because God will convert many souls to the light of the truth.
“This is the experience needed by those who labor in all our institutions. There is danger that they will fail of maintaining a vital connection with God, of being sanctified through the truth. It is thus that they lose a sense of the power of the truth, lose the ability to discriminate between the sacred and the common.” – Counsels to Writers, Page 91.2, Ellen G. White.
Serve God with all your heart
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (KJV) – “20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”
Hezekiah prospered because he served God wholeheartedly. Many of us serve God half-heartedly. Many secular musicians release songs to glorify sin and a few outstanding gospel songs. Instead of using music to glorify God fully, they attempt to serve two masters, God, and the devil. This practice confuses their listeners/fans. Those who take such musicians as their role models are geared to believe that it is possible to serve God and live a sinful life simultaneously. They are influenced to think that the profane music that the musician sings is not very sinful because the musical artiste is Godly since he has sung one good gospel song. The musicians who do that rob God of the opportunity to bestow full blessings on their lives.
It is not just musicians who serve God half-heartedly but also some pastors. Some pastors have made it a habit to preach partial truth or ‘comfortable truth’ so that they can pull crowds by telling them what they want to hear. Some have read the Bible numerous times and know the truth but only preach what they think will bring more offerings. Prosperity is a good thing because the gospel of Christ aims that all Christians should be prosperous in every good and noble line. Christ was made poor so we can be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Therefore, God wants us to be financially successful. Abraham, Job, Solomon, and many other servants of God were wealthy. However, preaching financial prosperity alone and avoiding other critical Biblical truths is erroneous. “Christ did not come to die on the cross because people were poor or uneducated. He came to die because of sin.” – Pastor Randy Skeete.
Sin is the cause of poverty (Genesis 3:17-19). Sin is the cause of illness. When Jesus healed people, He would tell them, “Go and sin no more.” Sin is the cause of death (Romans 6:23). Once sin gets eliminated, all these problems will be over. Unfortunately, some Christian pastors don’t understand this. They avoid preaching about sin because it is uncomfortable, and don’t want to drive away the members (customers). They have made the church to be a business hub. They serve God half-heartedly, and such service is disgraceful to God.
We should serve God with all our hearts. We should be ready to put our lives on the line for the service of God. John 12:25 (KJV) – “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” Love for God should come before love for one’s life. If this principle is kept, we will keep the need to serve God before the need to earn a living. If this principle is upheld, we will not fear going even to the most dangerous places to do mission work because we will prioritize God’s cause.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” Do not draw back after the Holy Spirit has awakened a sense of duty in your mind. Act on the suggestion, for the Lord prompted it. “If any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.” – Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 423.3, Ellen G. White.
“Paul saw that Timothy was faithful, steadfast, and true, and he chose him as a companion in labor and travel. Those who had taught Timothy in his childhood were rewarded by seeing the son of their care linked in close fellowship with the great apostle. Timothy was a mere youth when he was chosen by God to be a teacher; but his principles had been so established by his early education that he was fitted to take his place as Paul’s helper. And though young, he bore his responsibilities with Christian meekness.” — The Acts of the Apostles, Page 203 – 204, Ellen G. White.
The best time to serve God is when one is young. This is because the average young person is stronger and more energetic. The average young person also has fewer commitments than an older person. Therefore, a young person can do better work in serving God. If a young person is diligent, he will accomplish a lot in God’s work. Unfortunately, many young people see no value in serving God. They choose to serve the devil when they are young, thinking that they will serve God once they grow old. Such people have an assumption that they will live long. They don’t understand how unpredictable life is and that they can lose their lives anytime.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV) – “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
You only have one chance in this life to do it right. Do your best. Do it with all your heart.
Serve God sacrificially
Romans 12:1 (KJV) – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
In the above verse, Paul urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice means our hands, legs, eyes, ears, and minds, and we should use all other parts of our bodies sacrificially to honor God. We sometimes sacrifice sleep to watch movies. We sometimes sacrifice meals to play video games. Why don’t we do the same for God? Many things we sacrifice for have little to no value. They may satisfy our emotional needs for a limited time but have no real value to our lives. The work of God has priceless value. It has value in this life and in eternal life.
Hebrews 13:16 (NLT) – “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
Doing well is our duty (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Serving God is our duty. That is the reason why we are alive in this world. We were created to serve God with our various skills and talents. God, in His love, is calling acts of goodness (what is meant to be our duty) sacrifice.
Let us dig a little bit deeper and see how good God is:
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 13:16 tells us if we do good (which is supposed to be our duty, which God in His goodness acknowledges as an act of sacrifice), we will please God. Hebrews 11:6 says that God is a rewarder of those who please Him because He counts it as an act of faith. God pays you for doing good. In other words, God pays you for doing your duty. That is how good God is. It is like being paid to shower or brush your teeth; activities meant to be your duty.
We must serve God with all the ability we have. We must strive to go beyond our capacity. God will see our efforts and increase our ability if we do that. Let us not be so clustered with the things of this world like education, career, or relationships that we have no time to serve God. We should be willing to lose our jobs for the service of God. For example, if there is a church function that you are called to serve with your skills and talents, you should be willing to attend that function at the risk of losing your job. Faith is proved, in hard times, not when things are smooth. God may have set a circumstance before you so He can prove Himself to you. Who knows? If you do that, He may give you a better job than that, or He may open other channels of opportunity for you such as entrepreneurship. We sometimes lose out on the blessings of God because of beholding tightly to the things of this world. God does not honor a lack of faith. He does not honor disobedience.
You may be working 12 to 16 hours daily, and your job keeps you very busy. A child of God who knows his body is a living sacrifice to God will always spare some time to study the Bible. He will always spend some time sharing the Word of God. It won’t take much of your energy or time. You can read a good devotional article and share it with your friends digitally via WhatsApp, Facebook, telegram, or any other channel. Our digital media, like WhatsApp, are so advanced that they have broadcast lists that allow you to add more than 200 people. You can create broadcast lists to share the Word of God. Therefore when you share God’s Word, in just a few seconds, all those people will receive it. God will bless them and bless you in return.
“We must sow beside all waters, keeping our souls in the love of God, working while it is day, and using the means the Lord has given us to do whatever duty comes next. Whatever our hands find to do, we are to do it with cheerfulness; whatever sacrifice we are called upon to make, we are to make it cheerfully. As we sow beside all waters, we shall realize that “he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” – Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 423.2, Ellen G. White.
God honors sacrifices done to His glory and according to His commandments. He blesses those who sacrifice for His cause more than those who don’t. Apostle Joshua Selman says, “Whether, for God’s kingdom or the Devil’s, sacrifice is a non-negotiable requirement.” Aim to serve God beyond your limit. That is true sacrifice.
Serve God in an organized way
1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV) – “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
“God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. Success can only attend order and harmonious action. God requires order and system in His work now no less than in the days of Israel. All who are working for Him are to labor intelligently, not in a careless, haphazard manner. He would have His work done with faith and exactness, that He may place the seal of His approval upon it.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 376, Ellen G. White.
When building a house, one must start with a plan. After the plan, they buy the needed materials and start building a foundation. Afterward, they start constructing the whole structure. One cannot begin building the structure before one makes a foundation, and one cannot build a foundation before they draw a plan. Being orderly provides a clear roadmap to the success of everything. When doing God’s work, we should be organized. Our sole purpose should be winning souls for Christ. Therefore, in any job we are called upon to do, that purpose should govern our minds. We must be intentional when conducting God’s work. We should set a plan in writing of how we will perform the various responsibilities we are given in church. We should lay out clear and precise objectives.
If you are appointed a pastor of a church, you may start by listing down the departments of that church and their leaders. Find out their activities and challenges. Prayerfully come up with solutions to overcome those challenges and methods to improve the operations of those departments. Engage in some of those departments’ meetings and listen to everyone there, whether young or old, rich or poor. Constant improvement should be part and parcel of your work because the path of the just is like a shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18). Two questions that should always be at the top of your mind are: “what more can we do?” and “how can we improve what is being done?”
The church or the praise and worship team should set clear goals and objectives of what they aim to achieve in a given year. They should introduce new songs that they will learn in the year. Examine the message behind each piece to ensure that they cover various essential themes. The book of Psalms covers multiple themes. In it, there are songs of praise, songs for the Sabbath, songs of victory, songs of repentance, songs of lamentation, etc. There are songs that have various themes in one. Such can be more valuable if incorporated than those which cover only one. A timetable should be set on when to learn new songs and when to relearn the old ones. Every member of the choir or the praise and worship team should play an active role to ensure that they are actively and wholly engaged in their participation. They should keep time when they are going for practice sessions and ensure that they set time aside to revise what they have learned.
“Well-organized work must be done in the church, that its members may understand how to impart the light to others, and thus strengthen their own faith and increase their knowledge. As they impart that which they have received from God, they will be confirmed in the faith. A working church is a living church. We are built up as living stones, and every stone is to emit light. Every Christian is compared to a precious stone that catches the glory of God and reflects it.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:435, Ellen G. White.
“If discipline and order are necessary for successful action on the battlefield, the same are as much more needful in the warfare in which we are engaged as the object to be gained is of greater value and more elevated in character, than those for which opposing forces contend upon the field of battle. In the conflict in which we are engaged, eternal interests are at stake.” –Christian Service, Page 72.8, Ellen G. White.
Many practice discipline and order in their various workplaces or the schools where they study but do not do the same when conducting church service. Students will never be late to school but will be late to church because they know the consequences of being late to school. In such circumstances, it is clear that God is not kept first because the temporary is valued more than the eternal. These actions cause some people to struggle so much in attaining success because they go against the Bible verse that says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you, (Matthew 6:33).”
“Time is short, and our forces must be organized to do a larger work.” – Christian Service, Page 72.1, Ellen G. White.
Serve God in unity with others
Psalm 133:1 (KJV) – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
While working for God, we should unite with others to accomplish much for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of selfishness where one attempts to outshine others. The need to outperform others is a spirit of competition, and it is from the devil. Paul wrote almost half of the books of the New Testament. One reason why He wrote this much is that he collaborated with others. He mentored people like Timothy, who ended up writing two books in the Bible. We should interact with others, believers or unbelievers, to further the gospel of Christ. However, in our interactions with unbelievers, we should be careful not to let them pull us downward.
We should do our best to draw them to Christ. Therefore, invite unbelievers to church, share video-recorded sermons, and share Christian books with them. Share Christian devotional articles with them. When giving your unbelieving friend a gift, tie something to it that tells them of the love of Christ. It may be a small bookmark. That small bookmark may have a profound righteous effect on their lives.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV) – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
As the physical body cannot function properly, void of one member so does the body of Christ (the church). The little toe or the little finger may seem unimportant, but the whole body is hurt when they get hurt. When I was around sixteen years old, a heavy stone of about one hundred kilograms fell on my left foot toe. It was excruciatingly painful, I could not sleep the whole night. I had to miss school the next day because of the pain of just one toe. In other words, the entire body missed school because of one body part. That is the same with the body of Christ. That is why fellowship is essential. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
According to 1 Corinthians 12, God has gifted different people with different talents and has given them different abilities. God has set it that way so that we can socialize and unite. From the beginning, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Man is a social being. When we socialize, we get to know ideas we had not previously known. We learn new things we had not previously learned and overcome challenges that were once impossible to overcome. That is why we have sports teams and armies. In my undergraduate studies, in my mobile application development class, I encountered a problem while writing code when developing a mobile application. I would spend hours searching on the internet on how to solve a syntax error or a logical error. I would struggle to no success. However, when I would go to my desk mate and consult with him, he would help me solve the error within a second. There are blessings when we socialize. We need to ensure we do it to the glory of God and that we don’t use it to foster bad habits.
Therefore, when we unite with others to serve God, it is more potent than when each individual does it alone.
“In commissioning His disciples to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” Christ assigned to men the work of extending the knowledge of His grace. But while some go forth to preach, He calls upon others to answer His claims upon them for offerings, with which to support His cause in the earth. He has placed means in the hands of men that His divine gifts may flow through human channels in doing the work appointed us in saving our fellow men. This is one of God’s ways of exalting man. It is just the work that man needs; for it will stir the deepest sympathies of his heart, and call into exercise the highest capabilities of the mind.” – Counsels on Stewardship, Page 15.1, Ellen G. White.
Now if you have followed the above seven steps and still feel that you haven’t received the blessings yet. Do not stop serving God. God will bring you the blessing at the right time. Psalm 1:3 (KJV) – “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” A tree may take time to grow compared to other plants like grass and shrubs, but since it is planted in the right place that assures growth (the rivers of water), it will surely grow. Be patient. James 1:3-4 (KJV) – “3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
A Biblical Testimony on giving
2 Chronicles 31:10 (KJV) – “And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed His people; and that which is left is this great store.”
The word since in the above verse denotes that before the people started bringing offerings to God’s house, they didn’t have enough to eat. After they began bringing offerings to God, they had enough to eat. In addition to that, they were left with plenty. How was this possible? God caused it to happen. The verse ends by saying, “for the Lord hath blessed His people; and that which is left is this great store.” Some people return tithes and offerings only if their income can fulfill their needs. Some fail to give their time to God because they are extremely busy at work or school, so they don’t have time to spare. We should never forget that little is much when God is in it. The boy with two fish and five loaves of bread was able to feed a multitude of 5,000 men (not counting women and children) through the blessings of Jesus. He provided them to their satisfaction, and twelve baskets remained.
Some modern-day testimonies on giving
There is a friend who I advised to tithe everything, including loans. A few months later, she returned with testimony and said she had received numerous blessings since she followed that advice. She said she would receive only enough money to buy what she wanted, but the commodity would get discounted after she had tithed the money. She would buy it and remain with cash to do other things.
There was a day I received a small amount of money. I returned tithe and offerings and contributed to various church programs, in that I was left with around 20% of the total cash. The next day I received miracle money of the same amount that I could not trace its origin.
There was a day I got a client who gave me work to do with a very tight deadline and paid me a deposit that was half the total amount. I was to complete the job in four days and I doubted if I will be able to complete it, but I trusted God to enable me to finish it. I resolved to embark on the work on Sunday after the Sabbath was over (Matthew 28:1, GNT).
On Saturday evening, a leader of one of the children’s departments informed me that there would be children’s classes on Sunday and asked if I could come. I was not sure about it because I had so much to do. However, the spirit of God told me to go, and immediately after, I was done and ready to embark on the work I was supposed to do. After I was done teaching the children, I reached out to the client to give me the full requirements of the work. She didn’t. I reached out to her for almost a month, but she told me to wait. It reached a point where she would not respond to my texts. Up to this day, I have yet to understand what happened. In other words, she gave me that money without requiring me to do any work. To me, that is a miracle.
“Majority of wealth is created from investment rather than from income.” – Richard Koch, 80/20 Principle.
The question is, what is the best investment?
In the book Business Secrets from the Bible, Rabbi Daniel Lapin says that money given for tithe, offerings, and charity work is an investment. Your money is safer when given to God than when saved in a bank. Money invested in God will yield more returns than in land, stocks, cryptocurrency, or any other investment in the world. Matthew 6:19-20 (KJV) – “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
Banks are robbed no matter how secure they seem. Nobody can rob heaven. People can grab land on earth, but no one can grab land in heaven. There are no resources wasted that is given to God’s cause. No money given to God’s assignment is wasted. No time given to God is wasted.
In the book the Ultimate Framework for Success in Shares, on Page 10, Peter Wambu says, “Investing in the stock market is a game of probabilities. After all, no one can tell you for certain how the future will unfold except God.” This is a quotation from a book advising on how to succeed in stocks. That quotation means that investing in God is better than investing in stocks. Investing in the stock market is a game of probabilities because you are unsure if you will make a profit.
Investing in God’s kingdom is not a game of chances because you are relying on someone who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). You are relying on someone who knows the end from the beginning, and you are relying on someone who has full control of the future. People typically invest in securing their future.
Pastor Douglas Atuti says, “How can you invest for the future without consulting the one who owns the future?” We should invest in God’s kingdom as our first priority, and when we invest in other earthly things (like stocks or property), we should constantly dedicate our investments to God to secure them and increase them.
In 2021, a small cryptocurrency coin that offers no substantial value, known as SHIBA INU, increased by 46,000,000%. If you had invested a mere 3 US Dollars the previous year, you would have gotten a return of 1,000,000 dollars or slightly more. The question is, if an earthly man-made coin can give you such an increase, how much more can God (who is infinite with infinite resources) provide you if you invest in advancing His kingdom?
No time wasted
No time given to God is wasted. I often tell people, especially students, “Do not fail to study your Bible because you have an exam the next day or the same day.” Also, one should not fail to study their Bible because they have somewhere ‘important’ to go and are getting late.
When you give, you are not doing God a favor
Acts 7:47-50 (KJV) – “47 But Solomon built Him an house. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? 50 Hath not My hand made all these things?”
“The entire universe cannot house God” – Pastor Randy Skeete. God says He sits on the whole heaven and uses the earth as His footstool. He goes ahead and says, He is the one who created all these things. God is so good because He has made everything and asks you to give Him what He has already given you.
God promises that once you give a portion of what He has given you, He will return to you more than He initially gave you. In other words, God is doing you a favor when he asks you that. When you share or engage in anything Godly, you are not doing God a favor. You are doing yourself a favor. God gives us elementary principles, but our carnal minds try to complicate them.
“But when the Master receives the talents, He approves and rewards the workers as though the merit were all their own. His countenance is full of joy and satisfaction. He is filled with delight that He can bestow blessings upon them. For every service and every sacrifice He requites them, not because it is a debt He owes, but because His heart is overflowing with love and tenderness.” – Christ Object Lessons, Page 361.1, Ellen G. White.
One way to advance in business and career is through networking. You may have a business in the service industry, for example, in electricity, graphic design, or catering. Such businesses require one to have a portfolio of the work they have previously done. Some clients will look at your portfolio but won’t trust you if you can do it, so they may take some time to know you before giving you work. This may take a long time, especially if you are new. Lack of connections makes the struggle worse.
When starting, be prepared to do many projects for free, and this has a downside since some people will expect you to be doing everything for them for free forever. Building connections is problematic. You may approach one thousand people, send emails, or go from office to office, and no one buys from you. However, when you offer your skills and talents to God’s service, you get connections quickly because you get known by people you don’t know. For example, almost everyone who attends the church service knows the pianist, but the pianist does not know everyone. By consistently playing piano during all church services, he builds trust in the hearts of the church attendees. Therefore, if the church pianist decides to open a business of teaching people how to play piano, he will get many clients from the church because they trust him as they have seen him play the piano. Such a person will receive business more quickly than those who look for clients. God’s work has blessings. Among those blessings are career blessings.
“That man might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our Redeemer formed the plan of enlisting him as His coworker. God could have reached His object in saving sinners without the aid of man; but He knew that man could not be happy without acting a part in the great work. By a chain of circumstances which would call forth his charities, He bestows upon man the best means of cultivating benevolence, and keeps him habitually giving to help the poor and to advance His cause. By its necessities a ruined world is drawing forth from us talents of means and of influence, to present to men and women the truth, of which they are in perishing need. And as we heed these calls, by labor and by acts of benevolence, we are assimilated to the image of Him who for our sakes became poor. In bestowing, we bless others, and thus accumulate true riches.” – Counsels on Stewardship, page 13.5, Ellen G. White.
The example of Jesus Christ
“Christ came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He was our example, and God has apportioned to us our work, to minister to the necessities of others, according to the ability He has given us. As we use this ability to the best account, it will increase. Those who do all they can on their part with what God has entrusted to them, and bear their whole weight upon Him, He will strengthen them just when strength is required. In thus doing, we give God room to work for us; to teach and lead and impress us, and make us channels through which His light can be communicated to many who are in darkness.” — The Review and Herald, January 5, 1869, Ellen G. White.
Acts 20:35 (KJV) – “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“Every good thing of earth was placed here by the bountiful hand of God as an expression of His love to man. The poor are His, and the cause of religion is His. The gold and the silver are the Lord’s; and He could rain them from heaven if He chose. But instead of this He has made man His steward, entrusting him with means, not to be hoarded, but to be used in benefiting others. He thus makes man the medium through which to distribute His blessings on earth. God planned the system of beneficence, in order that man might become like his Creator, benevolent and unselfish in character, and finally be a partaker with Christ of the eternal, glorious reward.” – Counsels on Stewardship, Page 15.2, Ellen G. White.
A short prayer
If you are engaged actively in God’s service, remember to pray this prayer daily:
Nehemiah 13:14 (KJV) – Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being God. Please help me to serve You only. Help me to glorify You always. Help me to serve You in accordance with Your law and with all my heart. Make it natural for me to serve you sacrificially, in an organized way and in unity with others. Help me to put my whole time, effort, talents and resources in serving You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Activity
- Prayerfully Reflect: Are you serving the one and only true God?
- Prayerfully Reflect: How can you glorify God best when serving Him?
- Prayerfully Reflect: Are you serving God in accordance with His law (the Ten Commandments)?
- Prayerfully Reflect: Are you serving God wholeheartedly?
- Prayerfully Reflect: How can you serve God sacrificially?
- Prayerfully Reflect: How can you serve God in unity with others?
- Identify Your Role(s): List any responsibilities you have in church or ministry (e.g., choir member, youth leader, usher, Bible study teacher, evangelism volunteer).
- Write Clear Goals: For each role, write down one or two clear goals you aim to achieve over the next 3 months.
Example: “Learn 5 new worship songs that reflect praise, repentance, and thanksgiving.” - Create an Action Plan: Under each goal, write specific action steps and timelines.
Example: “Practice one new song every two weeks with the worship team every Thursday at 6 PM.” - Set Reminders and Deadlines: Mark your calendar with deadlines for key tasks and reminders for practice or planning meetings.
- Evaluate Weekly: Every Friday evening, review what you did during the week for God’s work. Ask:
- Did I follow the plan?
- What can I improve next week?
- Share and Serve Together: Encourage one other church member or friend to do the same. Meet once a month to pray together and share progress.
Author: Mark Alex
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