December 5, 2019 ● 19-36
Is serving God enough? Do we consider our salvation as an opportunity to serve the Lord, serve the king of kings and Lord of Lords, and nothing greater? Is simply getting to serve God enough in our lives?
King David was on the run from his son Absalom, settling in the village of Mahanaim. While in Mahanaim, a man by the name of Barzillai took care of David (2 Sam. 19:31-39). After David’s son Absalom had been killed, and after David’s time of mourning for his son, he set out to return to Jerusalem. David invited Barzillai to come with him to Jerusalem. Barzillai’s reply shows humility and gratefulness from being able to serve David. Barzillai simply told David that he, Barzillai, was eighty years old, and had difficulty hearing, seeing, and even tasting food. For David to take him to Jerusalem would simply be a burden. He was satisfied with going back to his home where he would die in his city and be buried near the graves of his parents. Barzillai did, however, recommend a man by the name of Chimham to go with David as his servant.
Barzillai was satisfied with the fact that he got to serve the king. For Barzillai, serving the king was enough, he did not need any further reward. Later, when David gave his son Solomon instructions on leading the nation of Israel as king, David told him to show kindness to the sons of Barzillai and allow them to eat at the king’s table because they assisted him in his time of need (1 Kings 2:7).
Is serving God enough? The moment God saves us He fills us with His Spirit which enables us to serve God in a particular way (spiritual gift(s)). The purpose of these spiritual gifts is to build up the church and for the benefit of others in the church (1 Cor. 12:7). The question is, though, in our service, are we looking for something greater, a ‘bigger and better ministry’, a position of prominence in our church or denomination? What if we preached or taught Sunday School or was involved in one-on-one discipleship through the years and no one outside our local church ever took notice? Is the fact that we get to serve the Lord of the universe, whether anyone else takes notice or not, whether we are ever placed in a prominent position in our church or denomination, whether we ever write a book or not or are invited to preach many revivals or speak at conferences – is the fact that we get to serve God enough?
Simply seeing the Messiah was enough for Simeon after all his years of waiting for the coming of the Christ-child (Luke 2:29-32). For Anna, simply seeing the Messiah was enough after all her years of praying and fasting in the temple (Luke 2:36-38). For the apostle Paul, all that he ever accomplished in his life was nothing compared to the fact that he got to serve the Lord in the proclamation of His word (Acts 20:24).
Is serving God enough? Yes. The God of the universe, the God of all creation, the God of life itself, saved you when you cried out to Him, forgave your sin, filled you with His Spirit, adopted you into His family, and has prepared a place for you in heaven. You get to serve the God of the universe, and that is enough!