Tuesday Night Quote

Food for Thought

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

~ Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: saint_augustine.html

Serve The Lord With Gladness

It is a privilege to serve God and for that reason serving Him should be done with gladness, vim, vigor, and vitality. But sometimes there are barriers that interfere with us from serving God.  One of these barriers that keeps us from serving God successfully is self-centeredness. By nature, we are selfish people. We want it to be all about us, what we need, what we want, and what we’ve just got to have. This selfish attitude places a huge gap between us and the Lord. Philippians 2:4 (Amplified) says, “Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.”

Image:  www.freedigitalphotos.net

Another barrier or roadblock to serving God is materialism. Dictionary.com defines materialism as: “preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.” Don’t get me wrong, God does not mind His children being prosperous, having needs not wants met, and having the best that life offers. But, as the definition states, when it becomes a preoccupation and your spiritual life takes a back seat, it then becomes a barrier between you and God.  Luke 16:13 (Amplified ) says, “No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon (riches, or [a]anything in which you trust and on which you rely).”

Serve God with gladness and thankfulness. Don’t let it be a chore to serve Him. Don’t become preoccupied with things of this world because they will soon perish.

Psalm 100 (Amplified) – Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!  Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!  For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.