OC February 25th

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“I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” 2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT

Todays devotional, titled - The Destitution of Service - focuses on the same verse as yesterday. 

Chambers starts with this comment, “Natural human love expects something in return.” Tit for tat. Score keeping. Scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours…. Christ never had a relationship like that. He would love if we didn’t treat our relationships this way. Especially marriage. Love and devotion to someone should not require anything in return. The act is the expression of love. 

Chambers says of Paul in reference to the sacrificial service and life of Jesus, “And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself - he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul. 

That is where Christians start squirming in their seats a little bit. Wanting to keep Jesus and service in one box and their other life in another box. The idea of sacrificing material comforts and security is scary. American society values success. Success in terms of making something of yourself. Jesus’ message is always illogical when placed up against the values of societies - from Ancient Rome to today. If you want more, give more. If you seek to be on high, make yourself lowly and humble. So what is He really saying…. - it’s not about YOU!

Two quotes from the devotional that should rattle your cage a little bit - if you truly love God:

“…before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns - ‘What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.’ All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God.”

“The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet - that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God.”

He created this universe for His glory. He owes us nothing in return and we should expect nothing in return from others. So test your intentions. “Why am I doing this? Gods glory or mine?”

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