Dear Brethren and Friends, Most of us realize that deeply converted Christians will sincerely want to give their lives to God in worship and service (Romans 12:1). That should be our basic mode of life—to be "givers" rather than "getters." And we should sincerely want to lay down our lives for Jesus Christ simply as an act of worship and deep appreciation for what He did for us.
In no way do we "earn" our personal salvation in God’s Kingdom. We all know this, and God’s Church has always taught this. For salvation is "by grace"—a free gift of God. As the Apostle Paul was inspired to write, "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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8–10). So, although "salvation"—eternal life in God’s Kingdom—is a "gift," we are nevertheless created "for good works." But is there any benefit for us in doing those "good works?" Certainly, we should want to do them anyway, but does a loving God encourage us and motivate us by giving us extra blessings if we go above and beyond the "minimum requirements" and enthusiastically commit ourselves to His service and His Work?
Yes, He does!
For, again and again in His inspired word, God tells us that He will especially bless those who go above and beyond and serve their fellow human beings and their fellow Christians, and involve themselves in the very Work of God. Notice this statement by Jesus Christ, which is a foundational truth: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ’There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together" (John 4:34–36).
In the above passage, Jesus Christ directly tells us that we receive "wages" for eternal life, and an opportunity to "rejoice together," if we participate in the very Work of God! And, we all know, God wants us to do whatever we do with all our might! As Paul wrote the Colossians, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Colossians 3:23).
Jesus Christ told His Church: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Also: "’Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.’ Amen" (Matthew 28:18–20). Notice also: "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes" (Matthew 10:23). And, to those who genuinely understand our national identity and one key reason why God has called us together as a "team" to do His Work today, we find this command to participate in the Work of the "watchman" of modern Israel: "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me" (Ezekiel 33:7).
Our Father in heaven does want us to be motivated. He does offer us a "reward" in His Kingdom far greater than merely "being there" (Matthew 5:12)—if we will go above and beyond in serving zealously in the Work which He is doing today through Jesus Christ’s body. We, my brethren, are that "body" (1 Corinthians 12:27). So, although our opportunity to have eternal life is a "gift," God’s word clearly indicates that there are varying degrees of glory, power and opportunity to serve in God’s Kingdom based on our willingness to serve. For Paul wrote, "There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:41–42). Jesus stated that those who serve the most selflessly will be given authority over ten cities rather than five cities (Luke 19:11–26). He also warned that at the very least people ought to "participate"— at least have some part in God’s program today!
The Apostle Paul stated a basic principle about giving: "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6–8).
My brethren, if any one of us "holds back" and simply supports God’s Work in a "minimal" manner, we will be rewarded accordingly! We will not have the degree of glory, power and opportunity to serve in Christ’s glorious Kingdom that we would have if we would have gone "all out" in genuinely sacrificing and serving in Christ’s Work today—just as the Apostle Paul did! Truly, as Paul was inspired to tell us, "God loves a cheerful giver" (v. 7).
Dear brethren, my point is not to encourage you to "give what you have not got." It is rather to help you understand God’s mind and see how you will ultimately be rewarded in His Kingdom. Many seem to forget this, as God seems "far off" and "unreal" to so many who are not close to Him and are not conscious of His intervention in their lives and in world affairs. However, if we truly learn to "walk with God," we will really want to give our lives more fully to do His Work and His will, and be genuinely involved with what Christ wants us to do. That will mean not just helping the Work in a financial way as we are able, but praying fervently and "laboring" in prayer as Epaphras is described as doing in Colossians 4:12. It will also involve giving to and serving our brethren, and—perhaps for a few—literally offering our home as a base for a "house church" or video group as Nymphas is described as doing in Colossians 4:15, "Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house" (Colossians 4:15).
Paul was inspired to instruct us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). Here, Paul instructs us to use these spiritual gifts zealously in helping others, teaching others, serving others and in giving— certainly to others, including to God’s Work. Paul encouraged the brethren to serve in this manner, "He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness" (v. 8).
As the end of this age approaches, each one of us needs to focus on the profound statement Jesus Christ our Savior made in the Sermon on the Mount, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19–21).
If we truly have our "hearts" in God’s Work, we will obviously want to give generously! This should not be a mystery to any of us. So we should each think about how we can best do this. A wonderful example as a "hero of the faith" was Raymond Jorgensen, the Iowa farmer who willed his entire farm with the buildings and equipment and everything to God’s Work a few years ago—enabling us to move to our new Headquarters in North Carolina! Some of you remember his wonderful example. By giving that entire property— which was valued at nearly a million dollars—he certainly indicated to our Father in heaven exactly where he stood! His wonderful gift will never be forgotten by me, nor by many of us who are profoundly thankful that God put this action on his mind and heart.
Near the same time, Mrs. Olga Bennett—who attended our Nashville congregation—willed her home and property to the Church—also helping us to "get going" once we had arrived here in North Carolina. Although her gift was of a smaller property, she plainly showed that her "heart" was in the same place as Mr. Jorgensen’s—and she undoubtedly will be rewarded accordingly (Matthew 5:12)!
Many others of you have given generously over the years. I am just using these two outstanding gifts as an example. As thousands of us grow older, we may choose to "will" much of our estate to the Work of God. This certainly will be a tremendous service in propelling the very Work of Jesus Christ forward as we "finish the Work" preparatory to Christ’s return as King of kings.
Others in the Church may wish to find other ways to increase their income in order to give more generously. Some—perhaps lacking financial resources—may simply give of themselves in love, prayer and in service to their fellow Church members. Again, remember the example of Epaphras: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis" (Colossians 4:12–13). We, too, should show God that kind of zeal as we help our brethren, fervently pray for them and do all we can to further the impact of this magnificent "crusade" we are all called to be a part of in preparing the way for the King of kings!
The Apostle Paul set us an astounding example by constantly going above and beyond what was required in order to reach other human beings and help to give them an opportunity to be part of the first resurrection. He wrote, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more" (1 Corinthians 9:19). In every way he could, Paul sought to "win" other human beings to the cause of Christ. In doing this, he wrote that "to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some" (v. 22). Paul explained that he tried to "please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:33).
In like manner, Paul commanded us—as genuine Christians—"Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). As alternating storms and droughts, famines and disease epidemics begin to strike—along with "great earthquakes" and finally horrifying disease epidemics—we all need to let God know where we truly stand! May God inspire each of us to strive to "go all out" in serving Him, and in doing everything we can to use our time, our talents, our energies and our financial resources to further the Work that Jesus Christ is now doing through His Church!
The prophet Daniel described the coming years as a "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time." He wrote: "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:1–3).
May God inspire me and you—and all of us who have ears to hear—to genuinely "give" ourselves to Jesus Christ to turn many to righteousness! Truly, as God has promised, we will then shine in His Kingdom, "like the stars forever and ever."
