Serving Others a Rewarding Ministry

 

In her book “The Hiding Place”, Corrie Ten Boom describes her Tante (Aunt) Jans as a Christian who helped the poor and also wrote Christian tracts and pamphlets. When the doctor diagnosed her with diabetes it was quite a shock as there was no real treatment at that time. It meant that Jans had very little time left. Her response “and from then on she threw herself more forcefully than ever into writing, speaking, forming clubs and launching projects.”

Corrie was trained by the doctor to carry out Jan’s blood tests and she did it weekly. One day the blood test came back black, she had three weeks at most. Corrie told her father about it.  As a family they considered how to tell Jan. Corrie’s father hoped that perhaps she would take heart from all she had accomplished. So they all went upstairs to her room.

She was sitting at her round mahogany table, working on yet another project. As she saw the number of people entering the room, she laid down her pen. She looked from one face to another, until she came to Corrie’s and gave a little gasp of comprehension. This was Friday and Corrie had not yet come up with the results of the test.

“My dear sister-in-law,” Father began gently, “there is a joyous journey which each of God’s children sooner or later sets out on. And, Jans, some must go to their Father empty- handed, but you will run to Him with hands full! “All your clubs,” Tante Anna ventured “Your writings,” Mama added. “The funds you’ve raised,” said Betsie. Jans began to cry, “Empty, empty! How can we bring anything to God?

God's beautifully portrayal His people as flourishing fruit trees planted by the waters. Trees that never fail to bear fruits (Jer. 17: 8) but yield their fruit in season (Psalm 1:3).  In Ezekiel 47:12 they are depicted as fruit trees of all kinds growing on both banks of a river flowing from God’s temple. They bear fruit every month; their fruit is for food and their leaves for healing.

In Ezekiel 17:23 they are portrayed as a stately cedar, planted by God on mountain heights. Birds of every kind nest in the shade of its branches. Its foliage is beautiful, its fruit is abundant and in it is food for all. Daniel saw “its leaves as lovely, its fruit abundant. It was food for all; the beast of the field found shade under it. The birds dwelt in its branches and all fresh was fed from it” (Daniel 4:12).

Bearing fruit is so important to God. Jesus emphasized bearing fruit in his teachings. In John 15 he said, this is to my father’s glory that you bear much fruit , showing yourselves to be my disciples (v.8) I  appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last” (v. 16). In Matt. 21:19 Jesus cursed a fig tree when he found nothing on it except leaves. The fig tree had the appearance of fruit but not the fruit itself.

Jesus cursed the fig tree as a warning that God expects his children to bear spiritual fruit at all times. This clearly indicates that bearing fruit is not optional for Gods children. It’s not enough to bear many attractive leaves, without fruit –much fruit-lasting fruit; your fate is eternal fire. John the Baptist  said “the ax is already at the root of the trees  and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and be thrown into the fire (Matt 3:8-10)

What is this fruit that God expect his children to bear? Fruit-bearing is as much who you are as what you do! It’s both a godly character and good works. As the word of God is written upon the tablets of our hearts, it is demonstrated in our actions every day.  The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25), is the evidence of Christ dwelling within us. Without this fruit we shall never be allowed into God’s presence and all our good works will be useless.

Fruit-bearing is also the good deeds that result from the application of the word of God in our lives. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God’s children are his handiwork, created to do good works, which he prepared in advance for them to do. We are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works. James wrote “What good is it if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-17).

Every believer is a full time minister, serving wherever God has placed him. Every believer is expected to win others to Christ and the people we win are beautiful fruits that we shall run to present to God when we finally meet him face to face (Ps. 126:5-6). But each day God allocates each one of us some task to do. Our whole life is an interconnected series of good works offered to God.

You need to think of your whole life as an offering of good works to God; see every moment of every day as an occasion to do good works.1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor is not in vain”. Colossians 3:17 proclaims, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Our good deeds have an evangelistic effect.  Matthew 5:14-16 tells us that we are the light of the world. When we light a lamp and put it on its stand, it offers its service indiscriminately to everyone in the house. Offer your good works indiscriminately too and when the world associates your good deeds with your faith, they will glorify God.

Proverbs 3:27-28 tells us not to withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in our power to act. If we have the means to help someone right now, we should do so. It’s too easy to convince ourselves that we will when we’re in a better position or when we’re not as busy. Whatever excuse we give ourselves, sometimes it tends to turn “someday” into “never.”

Hebrews 13:16 tells us not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. In this verse the author is not just asking you to do good, he is reminding you not to forget.  Do not become weary in doing good and do not give up. As you have opportunity, do good to all people (Gal. 6:9-10). And whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, you will receive a reward from him (Col.3:23-24).

Paul told Timothy to “command those who are rich in this present world not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share (1Timothy 6:17-18).  People who to put their hope in wealth tend to hold onto it instead of sharing it, but wealth provides an opportunity to become rich in good deeds.

Those who have trusted in God should be careful to devote themselves to doing good because it is excellent and profitable for everyone (Titus 3:8). Everyone benefits when God’s people devote themselves to good works. Hebrews 10:24 tells us to provoke one another to do good works. We are to help each others identify opportunities to serve and to have hearts that long to serve.

In the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46), the sheep are ushered into God’s kingdom because of the good deeds they did for others “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers…you did for me.”On the other hand, the goats are denied access to the kingdom because of the things they didn’t bother doing. Their refusal to help others was a refusal to serve the God.

In Acts 9:36-42 we read of a disciple called Dorcas who was always doing good and helping the poor. One day she became sick and died. Two men were sent to Peter and they urged him to come at once!”  When Peter arrived all the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the clothing that Dorcas had made for them. If you left your place of work, church, family or neighborhood would people miss your good works and plead for your return or  would your absence go unnoticed?