Hinderances to Worship and Service - Part 1: Paychecks & Ladders
Although Joan normally took pleasure in helping the downtrodden with a meal or some warm clothing, today would be different. Standing before Joan was a woman whose defiant eyes matched the demanding tone in her voice. “You mean I waited 5 minutes for this? Don’t you have anything better? I also really need some frozen dinners and I don’t mean those generic brand ones.”
How many times has your generosity been repaid by ungratefulness or perhaps even demands? How often have you encountered someone who thought that they deserved your gift? What did you want to tell them? Would you ever treat another person this way?
People are unappreciative for many different reasons but it usually stems from the belief that “I deserve this.” You can be sure that when somebody believes “you owe it to me,” ingratitude will flourish.
So let’s ask the real question. What do you deserve from God? Now that you have submitted your life to God, attended worship services on a regular basis, willingly given of your money, donated time and energy for worthy causes, helped the poor and hungry, shared Christ with family and friends, etc. What does God owe you? Does He owe you heaven? If I think "God owes me"for all that I've done for Him, how will I view receiving heaven? With ingratitude? Would I ever dare to say, "I've done my share. I've earned my spot in heaven. Now I can stop and rest from serving God?"
The Christian who thinks he deserves God’s kindness and blessings for what he has done is just like the person who walks up to the soup line and says, “where’s my dinner you owe me?” The more one believes that “I deserve heaven” the less grateful that person will be as he worships and serves the Creator.
When a Christian is ungrateful to God and treats worship as “just something I got to do,” you can be sure that he or she has either misunderstood forgiveness or forgotten what God has done. Salvation is a gift God makes available through Jesus. Although we never deserve that gift of life, God graciously gives it to those who respond with the obedience of faith to His message.
My ungratefulness toward God is cured when I realize just how much I depend upon Him for forgiveness - even if I’ve been that proverbial good citizen.
• “When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" ... the one whom he forgave more.” Luke 7:42,43
• “He who is forgiven little loves little." Luke 7:47
• If anyone does not have the characteristics of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverence,, godliness, brotherly kindness and love, "he is nearsighted and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." 2 Peter 1:9
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998
Other Articles Which Might Be of Interest
Where Does The Bible Say I Have To Attend More Than Once A Week?
Hinderances to Worship and Service - Part 1: Paychecks & Ladders
Were They Not All Healed? (God's Mercy & Our Worship)