235. Receive Good from the Lord
Ephesians 6:7-8With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
The context of the promise is for slaves or servants, but in the context of our day the promise applies to any employeewho works for another. And in some sense, everyone works for another. The command is that we should regard ourselves as doing service for the Lord, and not to men. In fact, everything a Christian does is service to the Lord; and we serve the Lord by serving others. Every person needs to know his calling in life: For whom do we work and whom do we serve in our station in life?
If I am a husband I serve my wife as I would the Lord. If I am a father I serve my family as I would serve the Lord. If I am a son I honor my parents as if they were God. If I am a friend I lay down my life for my friends as I die to myself for the good of others. If I am a neighbor I serve the neighbor as I would the Lord Himself. No matter what my role or position or occupation there are people whom I serve: I love my neighbor as myself. I regard myself as a Servant of all. But I regard myself as serving the Lord and doing it all for Him.
The Lord does not need my good works, but other people do. I do not “serve the Lord,” but I serve Him by serving flesh and blood people. “Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” says Jesus.
I do not serve or do my work for payment and reward (though I can’t escape that in the real world); but I serve others out of thanks to God for His awesome grace and salvation. However, the Lord promises that I will receive from the Lord for every good thing I do. And He keeps track; I don’t. This promise assures us that no good work of sacrificial service will lack a payment or reward. “He who gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones shall in no wise lose his reward.”
It takes a turned around head to think in these terms, I work for God by loving others and doing good things for them. God records each little deed and He repays accordingly. The promise needs to be believed in order to turn my life outward to seek ways that I can be kind to others. And the Lord will never forget it. People will forget and they don’t always even give thanks. It is enough to know that I will receive the same good thing of the Lord. When my constant focus is on Jesus and not on myself life is much better. It helps to see Jesus in every other person I see. Jesus notices, and He rewards.