Our attitude in service
Our attitude and motives in service are the key to fruitfulness in our lives. We need to have the heart of Isaiah. To serve, knowing our own faults and weaknesses:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
The right motive is to glorify God and praise our Father in Heaven. Otherwise we will have no reward from our Father in Heaven.
How we live on earth will affect our heavenly living.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Cor 5:10
Christ has already taken the punishment for sin for us. But each will stand before Him to be judged. He will be judging our reward and this depends on how we have lived our life on earth. Works and service that is not self-centered and glorifies God will be rewarded. Works done for self-glory will not be rewarded.
No one can lay any other foundation than that this already been laid in Jesus Christ. We have the foundation in the forgiveness of sins from our faith in Jesus. James says that faith without works is dead. Here are some examples of crowns that are given in Heaven.
- Crown of righteousness
- Crown of life
- Crown of the martyr
- Crown of glory
These crowns opens up privileged positions in heaven. All in heaven are not equal i.e compare Paul to the thief on the cross. Do amazing things with the wrong motive it will be like worthless rags. Always do works to glorify your Father in heaven.
How to pray, to give, to fast are important.
2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
Luke 21:2
The widows mite she gave two coins. She could have just given one, but she gave both giving everything. Jesus is not impressed by someone who builds a big Church building and names it after himself. But he is blessed by those that give what little they have.
Build on the foundations that Jesus Christ has given us and like Isaiah lets me ready to go and be sent.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Heb 11:1