Who Do I Serve?

This is the start of my new blog and I hope you find it helpful in your discipleship walk. If you like what you read and want to discover more about our ministry you can go to http://www.newlifenorwalk.org

Matthew 6:24 & 33-34
“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (NRSV)

In this reading from Matthew Jesus tells us that we will serve something, it is either God or something else that is what God is not. What is it that I serve in my life? If we take a simple inventory of where our resources go that may give us some idea of who or what we serve. We can all ask ourselves, where do I spend my time and my money?

Where do I spend my time? Well this week it has been in the yard and in my gardens. Now this is a great hobby and I truly enjoy my garden time. But, if my desire is to have the best landscaping on the block, a real showplace of a yard, neglecting all else including my time with God in prayer, worship, and scripture, and my time serving others in God's name then my garden is my false god.

The same can be said about my work (lets not mix up church work with God time for they are not always the same). I can even make a false god of my family as Jesus points out Matthew 10:37 "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." How often have I missed worship because of my child’s soccer or some other sport or event? Even our "family values" can become a distraction from the love of God.

Where do I spend my money? As I look around my office I see a large bookshelf filled with books. Would it no have been better if I did not buy all those books but borrowed some of them and use those funds for others in need? How about all the electronic equipment that I have at home do I really need to up date my computer, TV, or kitchen? How about all those old “obsolete” gadgets that were so bright and shiny but now I see them as just more trash for the already overflowing U.S. landfills, Globally, the 20% of the world’s people in the highest-income countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditures — the poorest 20% a minuscule 1.3%.. Our unchecked consumerism has taken over many of our lives. Has my desire for newer and faster become my god?

What ever we hold vital in keeping our lives intact may be pulled away at a moment's notice. By November my garden will be gone. All the stuff that I surround myself with is all subject to decay and soon will be gone. My employment and my work in the church will someday come to an end and eventually be forgotten. Even those in our family will be gone and someday be forgotten only a name on a stone. We cannot be assured by things of this world;our time, talent, stuff, even our family will some day be gone.

We cannot be assured by material reality that suffering and deprivation are not immanent. But, God’s grace is eternal. God's compassion for us is like that of a nursing mother toward her infant, (Isaiah 49:15) calling us to the reign of God where we receive faith and are cared for. In this reign of God we are freed from worry over that which is not permanent. We are freed to care for the other to reach out with what God has first given us so that others may have hope.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for freeing us by your grace, by this same grace empower us to serve others in your name. Through your Holy Spirit guide us in living under your reign, Loving you and loving others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

In Christ's love,

Pastor Tim