Who do I follow? The spirit of the times or God's word?

The „natural“ person wants others to work for him without being willing to serve himself. It is the same with the „carnal“ Christian.

The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus„ time were also characterised by this attitude (see Matthew 23:4-7). But Jesus challenges us to do something different: "The greatest among you shall be your servant.“ (Matthew 23:11) Most people think that such an attitude would only bring them disadvantages, but the exact opposite is true!

Two different basic attitudes

Since God is love (1 John 4:16), his basic attitude is: give!

But he doesn't just want to give to us, he wants us to give to others and receive more in return than if he had blessed us directly. In this way, not just one person is blessed, but several, often many and sometimes the whole world. This is God's ingenious way.

Since the evil one is selfish (Isaiah 14:13, 14: „I will exalt my throne above the stars of God ...“), is his basic attitude: Me! Me! Me! Take! Have! Egoism! To be the greatest!

The law of cause and effect

„In the plan of salvation, divine wisdom has established the law of cause and effect that benefits of all kinds doubly blessed become. Those who help the needy bless others and are itself blessed to an even greater degree. God could have accomplished his purpose of redeeming sinners without human help; but he knew that man could not be happy without co-operating in the great work by cultivating self-denial and benevolence. ... That we might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our Saviour formed the plan of enlisting us as his co-workers.“ (From the treasure trove of testimonies, Volume 1 (Hamburg 1956), p. 327)

Let's take a closer look at the quote:

' Benevolence of all kinds is doubly blessed: Both the giver and the recipient of the favour receive a blessing.

' The giver is blessed even more than the receiver. He experiences: practising self-denial and showing benevolence to others ennobles the character and makes himself happy!

' It also leads to many contacts with other people, which in some cases can even lead to a real friendship.

' Being a true co-worker of God also means leading others to Jesus. This strengthens our faith and brings us deep joy.

What does God do in us when we serve, help, give, bestow, bless?

1. This increases our goodwill for others. It is a healing process for our egoism.
2. Our service is a blessing for others and often leads to their affection.
3. Serving, giving and helping reflects on us, God gives us a retroactive blessing through this
4. We learn by doing. By serving others, we develop a kind character and we develop our practical, mental and spiritual skills.
5. Serving keeps me close to the heart of Jesus. Because those who think only of themselves gradually ruin their friendship with God - and therefore their spiritual life.
6. Those who are helpful avoid tensions and disputes in the family, at work and in social life.

A biblical example of giving

We find a wonderful biblical example in John 6:9-13. Do we remember the feeding of the 5,000 men plus their wives and children? A boy had given Jesus five small barley loaves and two fish. Jesus thanked God for the food, multiplied it and fed the large crowd with this small gift. The boy had given Jesus everything he had.

He probably kept nothing back for himself. But I think he must have eaten more than his fill! And this experience must have made him very happy. I'm sure he remembered it for the rest of his life.

A small example from Bolivia

„Doubly blessed by passing it on. What incredible blessings I have received from reading this book Steps to personal awakening receive. I share the content with our mission school students every morning during our devotional time. By preparing and sharing, I am blessed twice as much as they are. In God's kingdom it always works like this: the giver always receives more than the receiver.“ (D. K. Bolivia/South America #132)

Helping helps

We can see what God originally placed in people's hearts in the example of small children. They want to „help“ their parents. Why is it good when parents can accept this and be happy about it, even though they initially have more work to do as a result of this „help“? Quite clearly, the child grows in its practical and mental abilities by „helping“ or „serving“. They are happy about everything they are allowed to do, even if they don't get much out of it at first. The more often the child is allowed to „help“, the better the results will be.

And one day, the child really is a help to its parents. The child can now do something. And if it is allowed to learn to help in a wide variety of areas, it will eventually become proficient in many areas.

What would happen if parents didn't allow their child to „want to help“? Your child feels belittled and loses the desire to offer help. It will take more effort to become „fit for life“ later on.

Co-workers of Jesus - why and for what purpose?

Jesus, our great role model, came to this earth: „... to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.“ (Matthew 20:28)

The psalmist calls us: „Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with rejoicing!“ (Psalm 100:2) At first we think that service to others and joy cannot go together. But just think of the helpful child: it is happy when it is allowed to „help“ or „serve“. God knows that serving is good for us.

Serving, giving, helping in a community

The „natural“ person does not like to serve. This also applies to the „carnal“ Christian (someone who tries to live with God in their own strength without the Holy Spirit). This is why, as a rule, most church members must first become willing to serve. The decisive factor for this change is being filled with the Holy Spirit, as He brings about a different attitude. The Bible speaks very clearly about this task:„... He [Christ.] has made some apostles, others prophets, others evangelists, others shepherds and teachers of the church. Their task is to prepare believers for service so that the church, the body of Christ, can be built up.“ (Ephesians 4:11-12 GNB)

It is the task of church leaders and pastors to teach their church members how to achieve this attitude of service: they must daily invite the Holy Spirit to guide their thinking, planning, feeling, willing and acting. This requires that they practise this themselves. Then they should emphasise how important serving God and our fellow human beings is for all of us and for church life. And finally, they should guide and train their church members in many areas. In this way, God wants to bless the leaders and through them the church. And through the service of the members both internally and externally, the church is to be built up.

Serving, giving, helping in the Bible

We find many texts in the Bible that show that serving, giving and helping are blessed by God.

„Give, and it will be given to you: an abundant measure, pressed down, shaken and overflowing, will be poured into your bosom; for with the same measure that you measure out, it will be measured out to you again.“ (Luke 6:38 crowd)

„He who gives generously becomes richer and richer, but he who is more frugal than he should be becomes poorer and poorer. The generous man is well off and content; he who helps others will be helped himself.“ (Proverbs 11:24, 25 NLB)

„Whoever has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for what he has done.“ (Proverbs 19:17)

„Remember, he who sows sparingly will reap little. But he who sows with full hands will reap a rich harvest. Everyone should give as much as he has planned in his heart. He should not be sorry and he should not just give because he feels compelled to do so. God loves a cheerful giver.“ (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, see also 9-15 GNB)

Here are two more quotes from a gifted Bible scholar on the subject of „serving“:

„Whoever rejects the grace of a community of service with Christ rejects the only education that makes us capable of sharing in his glory.“ (Education (Hamburg, 1954), p. 242; Education, p. 264)

„A truth that is not lived and shared loses its life-giving power, its healing power. Its blessing can only be preserved if it is shared.“ (The path to health, Winterswijk, p. 102 - old title: In the footsteps of the great doctor)

This means that if you don't pass on what you have, you also lose what you have.

Why do many believers not experience growth in faith? Why do many even experience a decline in faith over time? Why do many no longer feel joy when reading the Bible? And where has the fire of first love gone for many?

For me there is only one answer: because they live in a „carnal Christianity“. Because they neglect their personal relationship with Jesus or have not entered into it at all! An intensive relationship of trust and love with Jesus protects us from selfishness and motivates us to serve others. This in turn makes us blessed!

It is not intensive activity in church services that is required here, but a ministry that is guided by the Holy Spirit. To do this, Jesus must „play first fiddle“ in our lives. He can do this if he dwells in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, many Christians have not fully understood this; they believe that they have to be active in the church so that God can accept them as his children in the first place. But it is the other way round: anyone who is truly a child of God wants to do something out of love and gratitude to Him. They are motivated to do so by a life in the Holy Spirit. God has a task or even several tasks for everyone. If we ask him to use us in his service, he will show us our task(s)!

It is important that each of us examines ourselves: Am I born again, am I „in Christ Jesus“? If so, then we can know one thing: Jesus Christ, to whom we surrender our lives every morning, lives in us and will work through us.

If we have to answer the above question with a no, then we should entrust ourselves to the love of Jesus in prayer as quickly as possible with the willingness to follow him in everything. We should also ask for „the renewal in the Holy Spirit“ (Titus 3:5). Then Jesus can dwell in our hearts through the Holy One.

Take enough time each day for your relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit! Only this will give us the right mindset and attitude so that our love for Jesus remains fresh - or is won anew. Only then will we experience joy in God and his word. Only in this way will we grow closer to God's heart.

„A selfish life leads to ruin. Covetousness and greed for profit separate people from the source of life. Satan's attitude is to possess everything, to want to chain everything to himself. Those who think like Christ, on the other hand, want to give and work for the good of others. (...) That is why Jesus tells us: Watch and beware of all covetousness, for no one lives by having many possessions.“ (Images of the kingdom of God, 4th Verb. Edition (Lüneburg, 2003), p. 208 - COL 259)

The law of service - at its core!

„All things in heaven and on earth proclaim that all life is under the law of service. The eternal Father provides for the needs of every living being. Christ came to earth as the one who serves. The angels are ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit bliss. This law of service prevails in all of nature. (...) Just as every thing in nature serves the life of the world, it also secures its own. Give, and it will be given to you, is the instruction that is as clearly laid down in nature as on the pages of Holy Scripture.“ (Education (Hamburg 1954), p. 94, Education Ed 103.2.3 egwwritings.org)

Serving in my commercial time

An example from my time in business will illustrate this law of service. As a young businessman in Frankfurt am Main, I took a correspondence course in planning and rationalisation. In the course materials, we were always strongly encouraged to „look for and offer a benefit for our customers. Because this benefit for our customers results in customer loyalty and from this we derive our earnings, livelihood and profit. The more benefits we offer, the greater our ‚benefit harvest‘ will be“. The author of the course had clearly recognised that we live under the law of service. He clothed this approach in his own vocabulary.

I was a dispatcher in a haulage company at the time. One day I asked my director for permission to visit some companies because I wanted to learn how we could win them as customers for our haulage company. He authorised this. He himself was an excellent salesman and said that I should at least give a packet of cigarettes to the head of each of these companies. I did this twice, but then I had a guilty conscience because I knew that cigarettes are very harmful to health. I asked God for forgiveness and promised never to do this again. I also prayed that God would help me to sell in the right way. At this time, the institute recommended that I prepare for the sales force by reading the book Live enthusiastically and win by Frank Bettger.

This book helped me to plan a completely different, totally correct sales strategy.

At many factories, you weren't even welcomed by the head of transport. I prayed and thought about what I could do. I phoned the haulage bosses who hadn't received me and asked them to see me for a chat so that we could find out whether we could offer you benefits or not. I said: „If we can offer you benefits that you don't already have, then you're probably interested in us. But if we can't offer you any benefits, then I promise I won't come back a second time.“ All the companies then met me and gave me detailed information about the quantity and type of goods they were shipping. At the end of the conversation, I promised to check everything carefully and then get back to them. After my review, we were able to offer one or more advantages to almost all of the companies. We almost always ended up doing business, initially on a small scale, limited to the area in which we could offer advantages. However, as we did a very good job, we became more and more involved in the business of these companies. God put his blessing on the fact that I had strived for the best for the customers.

Psalm 1 predicts a great blessing for the one who does not „walks in the counsel of the wicked“ (e.g. giving away cigarettes), but heeding God's word. Verse 3: „And what he does is probably right.“ We can say: Live enthusiastically and victoriously through Jesus.

Serving - a pleasure or a burden?

Most people use the word serve rather with the word Load than with the word Desire. How can this be changed?

„The Service for Christ means no effort for people, that are completely dedicated to him. (...) It will not be an unpleasant task to obey the will of God, if we surrender ourselves completely to the guidance of his spirit.“ (Treasury of testimonies, Volume 1, S. 325, 1TT 357.3)

It is therefore up to our relationship with Christ how we evaluate serving. And our inner attitude in turn depends on whether we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5). Only by constantly receiving the Holy Spirit can Jesus permanently dwell in our hearts. Jesus himself says: „Abide in me, and I will abide in you.“ (John 15:4 crowd) And if he abides in us, we will be able to serve joyfully.

That is why it is so important that I take decisive steps every day in my personal morning devotions:

' I check whether there is sin. If so, we ask for repentance, confession, conversion and forgiveness. As a rule, there will be no sin. Then we thank God that he has made his promise come true: „He that is born of God sinneth not; but he that is born of God keepeth him, and the wicked toucheth him not.“ (1 John 5.18)

' Ask God in faith, i.e. with a promise (e.g. Luke 11:13), that the Holy Spirit will fill me,

' Tell Jesus that I put my whole life at his disposal (Life of Jesus, p. 675 [676]), and

' place myself under the protection of God (1 John 5:18).

(You can find suggestions for these points in Steps to personal awakening in chapter 5 „Example prayer“).

When God uses us in his service, when he leads us, then he gives us the tasks, that he has planned for us. But he not only gives the task, but also the ability to do so!

(Recommended reading: The way to Christ, Chapter 9: „Life in service to others“)

Serving - under Jesus' yoke

Jesus says: „Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“ (Matthew 11:29)

Firstly, let's clarify the term „yoke“. What is it? A yoke is either a carrying pole that is placed over the shoulder and makes it easier to carry heavy buckets. But it also connects two draught animals to work together in front of a cart or a plough. And so Jesus wants to use this image to encourage us to work closely with him. We are harnessed together with Jesus, so to speak. He wants to join us in joint service. What a privilege that is! He invites us to learn from him, because he is the Master.

Verse 30 then contains encouraging words: „For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.“ This verse is now reminiscent of a padded carrying yoke and tells me that Jesus will not overburden us if we „carry the yoke“ together with him. The „cushions“ of this carrying yoke are called gentleness and humility. Because with know-it-all attitude and bossiness, we make life unnecessarily difficult for ourselves. Those who are humble are aware that they do not bear the main responsibility and do not have to do everything „alone and better“. Knowing that Jesus is there to help relaxes us and makes us kind and gentle. And because this is the case, he was able to say that the burden we have to carry is actually light.

Service and testimony

Morris Venden explains the difference between service and testimony:

„The word Service describes our Do, while the Certificate give has to do with that, as we are and what we say. Why do we serve others? We want to make life easier for them, do something good for them so that they feel that they are valuable and lovable to us. Perhaps these demonstrations of love will open them up to God's love and make them more likely to accept that they are wanted by him. In our ministry, we can effectively witness God's love to them through our nature and actions and tell them what a wonderful friend and Saviour we have found in Jesus.“

(Witnessing Christ without pressure: „What do we gain from working for Jesus?“ (Lüneburg, 2008), p. 33, Sharing Jesus Isn't Something We Do. It's Who We Are. Why Didn't They Tell Me? PPPA 2005)

A special service: bearing witness

Why does Jesus cause us to become his witnesses through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)? The Holy Spirit changes us and gives us wonderful experiences. When we talk about such an experience, it has great persuasive power.

Example: Mark 5:1-20 tells us that Jesus healed a possessed man. After he is set free, the man wants to stay with Jesus. He wants to join Jesus and his disciples. However, Jesus does not allow him to do so, but gives him a special mission: „... Go back to your relatives and tell them what God has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.“ (Verse 19 GNB) What did the healed man do? „The man obeyed and went. He travelled through the region of the Ten Cities and proclaimed everywhere what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.“ (Verse 20 GNB)

E.G. White explains (by the way: in Matthew 8:28-34 we are told of two men):

„They ... proclaimed Jesus' saving power everywhere and described how he had delivered them from evil spirits. In this way, they received a greater blessing through their missionary work than if they had stayed with Jesus for their own benefit. If we help spread the great message of salvation, we will be brought closer to the Saviour“ (The One - Jesus Christ, S. 331)

The two healed men joyfully fulfilled their task. Why was this not a burden for them? Because their hearts were full of love and gratitude. As the saying goes: „When the heart is full, the mouth is overflowing!“ And they not only told their relatives about what Jesus had done for them, but also spread the word throughout their neighbourhood. Why did they do this?

We find a very good answer to this question in the book The better way (E.G. White, revised edition) and there on page 58: „This saving and transforming message cannot be kept to oneself. Those who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and filled with the holy joy of his Spirit cannot keep silent about it. When we have experienced how kind our Lord is, we have something to tell.“

Yes, the two healed men had a lot to tell! They were full of joy because Jesus had freed them from the power of the demons. And They wanted to share their joy with many share. This gave them an additional blessing: „... for the joy we give returns to our own hearts!“

Co-workers of God - Co-workers of the angels

The angels also take part in this service:

„All those who consecrate themselves to God's service embody God's helping hand. You are an employee of the angels; Better still, they are the human tools with which the angels carry out their mission.

Heavenly messengers speak through their mouths and work through their hands. Human co-workers benefit from the education and experience of celestial beings in their interaction with them. Which university course can compare as an educational path?“ (Education (Hamburg, 1954), p. 249, Education, p. 271).

We bear witness in many situations. Even a mother who shows her children how to pray and how to trust God is an „evangelist“, and no less important than a pastor who speaks to thousands. Christ wants to make us his witnesses through the Holy Spirit so that other people can find their way to him.

Jesus left us valuable information about his return in Matthew 24 and 25. He speaks first of the signs and then of the manner of his coming. Although Jesus mentioned the omens, he will come so unexpectedly for us „like a thief in the night“. (chapter 24, verses 43 + 44). Jesus says: „Therefore be vigilant and be ready! For you do not know when your Lord will come“ (chapter 24, verse 42 Hfa).

Jesus then illustrates what this vigilance and readiness should look like through various picture stories.

Two possible behaviours of a steward (Matthew 24:45-51):

A steward is assigned to look after the other employees during his master's absence. When his master returns and finds him conscientiously at work, he will give this reliable man greater responsibility.

But if that manager is unreliable and thinks he has plenty of time before his boss returns and mistreats the employees instead of giving them what they need to make a living, then a bad end awaits him.

Jesus shows us here that we should fulfil our tasks faithfully and reliably and always treat our fellow human beings with love and decency. In this way, we are always prepared for his coming.

Two groups of bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13):

Ten bridesmaids are waiting for the groom. They want to accompany him the rest of the way to the bride's house. They want to light the dark path with their oil lamps. Five of the girls have small reserve jugs with them in case the oil runs out. The other five had not made any provisions. But the groom's arrival is delayed. Everyone gets tired and falls asleep. When the groom suddenly arrives at midnight, everyone wakes up and switches on their lamps.

The prudent girls have enough reserve oil. But the others' lamps only burn for a while and then go out. They want to quickly get some oil on the way, but when they get to the ballroom, the door is locked. The groom doesn't recognise them and won't let them in.

Jesus shows us here that we must be sufficiently filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not enough just to have something of the Holy Spirit. This means that we need a very personal, close friendship with Jesus, who dwells in us through the Holy Spirit, so that we are truly prepared for his coming.

Managing the money entrusted to us (Matthew 25:14-30):

A businessman wanted to go travelling and called his employees together beforehand and divided his assets among them. In his absence, everyone was supposed to manage the allocated money and multiply it. Two of them worked diligently with the money and made good profits. But the third hid the money. On his return, the businessman rewarded the two hard-working men with greater responsibility. He asked the third man why he had not at least taken the money to the bank to earn interest. But this man had the wrong idea about his boss. He mistrusted him and accused him of taking advantage of others and treating them unfairly. No wonder this man was sacked!

Jesus shows us here that our service for him and for our fellow human beings comes from the the right attitude. Those who serve God out of love and trust are most welcome in God's new world.

„The talents that Christ entrusts to his church are first and foremost the gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit. They also include all the abilities in the worldly or spiritual realm that we bring with us by nature or have acquired. They should all be used in the service of Christ.“ (Images of Kingdom of God, S. 266-268)

The Last Judgement (Matthew 25:31-46):

When Jesus returns, he will divide the people into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on the right-hand side. These are all those who have „served“ their fellow human beings without calculation by practising practical charity. He places the others on the left-hand side. These are all those who did not help their fellow human beings when they needed help.

Jesus says in verse 40: „Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.“ Jesus shows us here: His true followers only do good to their neighbours as a matter of course. It has become „second nature“ to them. They are often not even aware of it!

Jesus' statement - that when we serve others, do this for him - should positively change our attitude towards service and thus our relationships with others. Imagine if you could invite Jesus to dinner or visit him in hospital or in prison! Jesus said that this is exactly what we do when we do these acts of service to those around us. This is a great opportunity to also show Jesus how much we love and honour him! (after Bible study guide, 3rd quarter 2019, p. 100, „What you have done for the least of these“ - 22 Aug.)

Do we have to earn our way to heaven?

NO !!! We are saved by grace: „For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.“ (Ephesians 2:8, 9)

The text clearly says that God has saved us by grace! Our part is to accept this pardon with trust. Salvation has therefore already happened; we were saved at the time of our full surrender to Jesus. Faith means according to the Bible confide. If we remain in this relationship of trust, then we remain saved. And our desire to serve is a fruit, a consequence of our salvation.

Let's add a text from Romans 8:24: „For we are saved, but in hope.“ What does that mean? We may have been saved, but God has not chained us to Himself. We can free ourselves from this connection at any time. The Bible says that before Jesus returns to heaven, we will be „tested“ to see who has a relationship with their heavenly Father and who does not (see Matthew 22:1-14).

We summarise what service does

Spirit-filled, Christ-consecrated disciples gain joy and strength through their service, they increase in their practical, mental and spiritual abilities; and their character develops positively for their own good in the sense of God. Step by step, selfishness loses its power. And I am saved from withering or losing my faith. My life becomes attractive to other people. They can recognise a different, attractive lifestyle in me. This creates a good basis for my testimony: I share what Jesus has done for me and in me. My service helps the other person so that they feel better or relieved. He is happy about me. And the chance that the recipient will open their heart to the gospel increases. He passes it on and the blessing multiplies.

We now want to look at an attitude that brings us great relief in many questions of life: the willingness to follow our Lord Jesus in everything - and that includes serving, giving, helping and blessing. What matters to God is not the size of the gift or the amount of time and energy we invest, but our joyful yes to it. He rejoices in what everyone can give and expects nothing from us that we do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12 Hfa).

That's why I pray every morning: „Father in heaven, please make me willing to be ready for whatever You want. Hebrews 13:20, 21: May the God of peace ... make you able for all good, to do his will, and to create in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ. … God makes sure that I do this voluntarily and gladly.

Jesus was the great example of this lifestyle. The Bible calls him that: „Through love serve one another.“ (Galatians 5:13)

Unfortunately, the disciples had not yet sufficiently realised this in over three years with Jesus. Even in Jesus' last days on earth, they argued about which of them was the greatest. But in his love and wisdom, Jesus did not start an argument with them about this. He put on an apron and washed each of their feet. They never forgot this example. It opened their eyes to their selfishness and the deep love of Jesus.

They were terribly ashamed and understood what Jesus was trying to say!

Jesus wants this symbolic ministry to be practised in the future, because he said: John 13:14-17 Hfa:

„If I, your teacher and Lord, have already washed your feet, then you should also wash each other's feet. I have given you has set an example for you to follow. Act in the same way! ... Now you know that and can count yourselves lucky if you act accordingly.“

This foot washing was followed by the last communal communion. We see that Jesus not only taught his disciples a lesson, but at the same time instituted the sign of foot washing - before the Lord's Supper - for his church. For those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, foot washing and the Lord's Supper can never become a mere formality, but the constant teaching will be: „Through love serve one another.“

Why are there tensions and disputes?

Why are there tensions and arguments in families? Is the question in the background: Who is the greatest? Who is in charge? Why do marriages end in divorce?

Because everyone wants to decide and be right? And can't give in or ask for forgiveness?

Could it be that we too have not yet grasped the true meaning of the washing of feet? Because it reminds us of our baptism, where Jesus „washed us all away“ and thereby forgave everything and reconciled us with God. In the same way, we should forgive each other and be reconciled with each other. As a sign of this willingness, we wash each other - no, not our heads! - but our feet!