Service for the Lord

There are two distinct callings in the New Testament. One is a call to repentance (Luke 5:32) and the other a call to service (Matthew 4:18-22). Clearly the call to repentance must come first, but service does not normally (if ever) follow immediately on conversion.

Taking the case of our Lord first, it really goes without saying that He had no need of repentance. However, He did not enter on his path of service to God until He was about 30 years old (Luke 3:23) and in fact until the Spirit had come upon Him empowering for the service (Acts 10:38). Even then he had to spend 40 days in the wilderness before He started preaching and calling his disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men (Matthew 4). Before his baptism there is no record that He performed miracles. It was only when He was empowered to do so at his baptism that He started on his public ministry. It was then that He was sanctified and sent into the world (John 10:36).

If we consider Christ’s disciples we do not get anything said as to their being converted. All, save Judas Iscariot, were genuine believers on God (John 14:1). We know that Andrew and Peter were, as many others, looking for the Messiah (John 1:40-42; Luke 2:38). However they had much to learn and they served their apprenticeship under Christ. They were, we may say, given preaching experience in Matthew 10. However, they were not actually sent out into the world for service properly speaking until Christ had passed off this scene and the Holy Spirit had come upon them (John 17:18; Luke 24:49).

When we come to Paul we know that Christ apprehended him on the Damascus road. At that time he was told of the future service that Christ had in mind for him (Acts 26:15-18), but it was not till many years later that he was actually called to carry the Gospel to the nations (Acts 13:2).

What all this tells us is that there has to be a time of preparation before persons embark on service for the Lord. Of course this does not mean that new converts should not witness to their fellows as Paul did (Acts 9:20-22), but embarking on a path of service needs a certain measure of maturity.

In order to serve in any particular way we need a gift. The Spirit gives these (1 Corinthians 12:4). Just as we need a natural aptitude for a certain type of secular work so we need to be given a gift (a talent) for a certain type of spiritual work. Paul makes much of the fact that not everyone has every gift, but that the gifts are spread around as the Holy Spirit pleases (1 Corinthians 12:8-11 & 29-31). However, the question arises as to the use of the gift we have been given. The Lord will make this known to us. The particular line of Christian service we should actually pursue and where is in the Lord’s prerogative (1 Corinthians 12:5). In the secular sphere qualifications are not enough as we need to be appointed to fulfil a particular work. Christ will not however give us work for which we are not fitted. Underlying all this are the operations of God (1 Corinthians 12:6). He is behind all that is rightly done. He is working in it all. See also Romans 12:4-8 and Ephesians 4:11.

It is a great privilege to be working for God. In fact there is nothing else really worth doing (Revelation 14:13). What is done for Him will stand forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). It is wonderful that He should be pleased to give his creatures a part in what He is doing (1 Corinthians 3:9). We do not want to have our works burnt up which would be the case if they are not in accord with God’s will (2 Peter 3:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

One perhaps should say here that we are speaking about service for God towards man and not serving God by praising and worshipping Him which is right in its place. We are speaking, we may say of levitical, rather than priestly service. On the other hand we are not speaking of service in material things such as ministering to the physical needs of people, something which is right in its place (Acts 28:3).Some may have the ability to do the latter more than others. In Numbers we find that the Levites were to serve from the age of 25 to 50 (chapter 8:23-26). Although today we would not go by natural ages we should consider spiritual ages which would have involved spiritual growth. Time would be involved.

What is a concern to me in this matter is that there is a tendency in some quarters for every service to be carried on by one person - preaching, teaching, governing and so on. The persons may be qualified in Gospel preaching but not in teaching or dealing with disciplinary matters. It is a major fault in the so called clerical system. Persons may be able to discern whether ministry is spiritual or not without themselves being able to minister to the Lord’s people. Others may be able to discern that the Lord’s people are deteriorating spiritually without being able themselves to deal with the matter (a very painful thing). These persons should be listened to and not ignored. They may be Sisters in the Lord and not Brothers. Because they are not found speaking on platforms they should not be ignored.

There is another tendency with some, and that is to expect everyone to be engaged in the same service that they are. This is also a mistake. Evangelising the heathen is right, but not everyone has the qualifications for it or indeed may not have the Lord with them in doing it. The Lord gives to each one his work and this should not be overlooked (Mark 13:34). It is significant that Christ did not say:”Go and harvest”, but “Supplicate... the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth workmen unto his harvest” (Matthew 9:38). The Lord will use persons who have a heart for the work (are zealous) as well as ability to do it (2 Corinthians 8:16-24).

Someone may ask: “Are we serving Christ or God ?” The answer I believe is that we are serving Christ immediately, but in serving Him we are serving God. Christ has been made Lord (Acts 2:36) and consequently we are to be subject to Him (1 Corinthians 9:21). Paul speaks of himself as being an “apostle of Jesus Christ, by God’s will” at the beginning of a number of his epistles (e.g. 1 Corinthians 1:1). This shows that while it was Christ who had sent him out (an apostle is a sent out one), his going out was in accord with God’s will. There can be no idea that God would not have approved of his ministry. If He had not it would have meant that Christ was not in accord with God’s will Himself. Needless to say such a thought cannot be entertained.

November 2008