Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6
God has called each of us to serve Him. We’ve all been given spiritual gifts,
and the number one purpose of our using those gifts is to glorify Him. You may
have been called to teach or preach (see Ephesians 4:11). Or you may be a
generous giver or have a heart to show mercy (see Romans 12:8). You might love
to help others or perhaps you’re a gifted administrator (see 1 Corinthians 12:28).
No matter our gifts, using them should never shine the light on us. None of us
should “think of himself more highly than he ought …” (Romans 12:3). We should
never “seek glory from men”; rather, everything we do should be “pleasing … God
who examines our hearts.”
When you use a gift the Lord has given you, are you so focused on pleasing God
that it doesn’t matter what others might say? Would you preach or teach even if
no one ever told you that your words had encouraged or convicted them? Would
you give generously to your church if that giving was never acknowledged—even
by the IRS? Would you be merciful to those less fortunate, never hearing a
“thank you”?
If you can say, “Yes, I’d serve anyway even if I never, ever received any human
kudos,” then you’re serving for the right reasons. You’re using your gifts as
God intended. But if you sense that sometimes you seek a bit of glory for
yourself, then ask God to help you examine your motives.
And serve “not as pleasing man, but [as pleasing] God …”
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