Musing - The Privilege of Serving God

Hebraic Musing - The Privilege of Serving God

Have you ever had moments when serving God felt more like a burden than a privilege, even though deep down we know the opposite to be true.   Let this be the encouragement we all need from time-t-time.

Whether you are a Christian or a Jew, if you have accepted God as your King, you have committed to living your life according to God’s will. This means taking the moral high-ground even when it might be easier to lower your standards.  It means doing the right thing even when it is unpopular.  It means being generous and kind even when you are tired and spent.

In Ecclesiastes 11:9 we read, “You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see . . .”   This refers to the typical young man or woman in all of us who wants to have fun and do whatever he or she wants. We all have the younger person inside us who never grows up and who seeks immediate gratification and ignoring the potential ramifications.  Solomon gets our attention by saying to us with tongue in cheek, “Go ahead. Do whatever you want. Follow your desires. No one is forcing you to accept the yoke of God’s Kingdom.”

However, Solomon continues, “but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” No one forces us to live a moral and ethical life, but the verse reminds us there will be consequences for doing the opposite.  Deep down we know that eventually, righteousness will be rewarded while wickedness will endure harsh consequences. Are we seeking immediate gratification or longer-term rewards?

Here is the whole reference:

“You who are young, be happy while you are young,
     and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
     and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
     God will bring you into judgment.”  Ecclesiastes 11:9

If we think living a life unbound by morality or God’s will is better, then we aren’t seeing the full picture. If we look only at a little slice of life, we might see non-believers and the immoral having a grand old time. However, we don’t see the unhappiness and unhealthy side of living a life without self-restraint.

We who have accepted the Lord as God in our lives are privileged to see the big picture and know that although serving God may be difficult at times, the reward is unimaginable and the benefits unfathomable.  Jesus did say “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:30

Points to ponder

Have you experienced the peace, joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing
you are doing good deeds – being loving, giving, caring, etc.?

Do we have the patience to wait for the final judgement?

How long will we experience the reward for righteousness or for unrighteousness?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   September 13, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life”  “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein     November 25, 2015