- Colossians 3:23-24 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
- Galatians 5:13 - For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
- Ephesians 6:7-8 - With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
God commands us in His Word to serve one another. But in our lives, there are people and situations that make this call not easy to follow at all. However, a proper biblical perspective helps us to obey in every situation. The reason is this: in reality, we serve not people, but the Lord. When we understand this truth, our attitude towards everything we do changes. Whatever we do—whether we are a driver, a leader, a teacher, or serving our family at home—if our goal is to glorify God, we will do our work in the best way possible, with the strength He provides. Sometimes we may not see the immediate results of our labor. Others may not even appreciate it. But God uses our service to achieve His purposes. If the primary motivation of our service is the Lord, then we will not be dependent on the praise of people or visible results. The most important thing for us is this: our Heavenly Father is pleased. He has promised to reward those who serve wholeheartedly.
Reflection
How can you consistently remember that the Lord is the primary motivation for your service, and how can you lessen your dependence on human approval?