What’s in it for me?

Ephesians 3:  ⁷I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

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Warm comfortable pews and frigid temperatures outside made the atmosphere just right for falling asleep during the pastor’s sermon, that and his insistent rants about “being good” and “serving.” “I wonder if the sermon will be good today” I would question before I got to church.

When the pastor said something I didn’t feel like hearing, I would give the sermon a low rating and decide whether I was going to stay at that church or move on. I wanted to hear what I wanted to hear to make “me” feel better. Can’t this guy get it right?

• JESUS became a servant to me because of me.
• GOD allowed HIS SON to volunteer to save mankind through servant hood.
• Though GOD created everything, HE made HIMSELF the lowest to become the highest.

Paul says he became a servant of the gospel because of GOD’s tremendous grace and he was right. If it weren’t for GOD’s intervention, Paul would have ended up in Hell, instead GOD made him one of the greatest servants in history.

• When I realize what GOD has done for me, I get excited about serving others.
• When I look beyond my circumstances GOD speaks to me “clearly.”
• When I become a servant my circumstances don’t seem as bad.

After going to church seeking “what’s in it for me” I became depressed and very self centered. BUT GOD intervened and made me see something different. In order to make the most out of church, I must serve others in fact in order to make the most out of life, I must serve others! Wow what an epiphany!

• The more I realize GOD has blessed me, the more I serve.
• The more I serve, the more I realize GOD has blessed me.

It took a while because I guess I’m a little slow, but serving GOD has nothing to do with how my pastor preaches or what someone else is wearing or if the building is too big or too small. Serving GOD means my relationship has to be right with HIM and I have to be moved to action instead of sitting back and complaining.

• Are you worn down because of life?
• When is the last time you served someone without expecting anything from them or GOD?
• Do you get tired of serving?
• Are you serving for the right motive?