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The Lord Jesus Christ offers not only comfort from our burdens in this life but most especially the true rest in the heavenly kingdom.
People strive to do the things that they believe would be of great benefit to them. For instance, many are studying and working hard in order to have a bright future, giving all their time and strength in doing such. They disregard things that they think of as useless, believing that they would gain nothing from those.
However, people should wisely consider what truly is valuable and what is not. For, making a mistake in this regard is not only a waste of time and energy but leads to destruction. Indeed, there is something that others consider as useless but is actually very important. About this, the Bible will enlighten us.
What is one thing that others think of as useless?
“You have said, ‘It’s useless to serve God. What’s the use of doing what he says or of trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for what we have done?” (Mal. 3:14 Good News Bible)
There are those who think that it is useless to serve God. They believe that there is nothing to gain from obeying His commands. Why do others think of serving God is useless?
“It makes no difference. The same fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the bad, to those who are religious and those who are not, to those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. A good person is no better off than a sinner; one who takes an oath is no better off than one who does not.” (Eccles. 9:2 GNB)
Others think that serving God is useless because they see that the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the religious and those who are not, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not, have the same fate—all will end up in death. They think, a good person is no better off than a sinner, because there are wicked people who prosper:
“Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? … They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.” (Job 21:7, 13 New International Version)
Another factor that makes others think that the righteous are no better than the wicked is the persecution that comes with living a godly life:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (II Tim. 3:12 NIV)
These are some of the reasons why there are those who think that it is useless to serve God and they will gain nothing from obeying Him. However, to believe that serving God is useless is wrong.
Why is it wrong to believe that serving God is useless?
“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Eccl. 12:13 New Living Translation)
The Bible teaches that it is everyone’s duty to obey the commandments of God. This is how man can prove that he knows and recognizes Him (I John 2:3). It is everyone’s duty to know and serve God because He created all people:
“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Ps. 100:2-3 New King James Version)
It is very dangerous to not know God and to refuse to obey His commands. Apostle Paul emphasized, thus:
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (II Thess. 1:8-9 NIV)
Apostle Paul stated that “those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel” or His commandments “will be punished with everlasting destruction” which is the lake of fire on Judgment Day. Hence, those who disregard serving Him commit sin because what they believe is contrary to what God teaches. On the other hand, those who are obedient to God’s commands will prosper:
“Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” (Deut. 5:33 NIV)
However, although God created all people, not everyone has the right to render true service to Him.
For man to have the right to serve God, he ought to obey what God wants about where people should serve Him:
“Do not worship the Lord your God in the way that these people worship their gods. Out of the territory of all your tribes the Lord will choose the one place where the people are to come into his presence and worship him.” (Deut. 12:4-5 GNB)
Since the time of God’s first nation, ancient Israel, it has been God Himself Who chooses where people should serve and worship Him. It is God’s will that has to be fulfilled because He is the One being served, and those who are serving Him should obey. In the Christian era, Apostle Paul taught about the will of God that has to be fulfilled to have the right to serve Him:
“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” (Eph. 1:9-10 NKJV)
God’s will for all those who want to serve Him is that they be gathered together in Christ. Why? Because all people have sinned (Romans 3:23). Because of sins, they were separated from God and were considered His enemy (Isa. 59:2; Col. 1:21), and thereby lost the right to serve and worship Him. To be forgiven of their sins and have the right to serve God, people need to attain redemption through Christ’s blood:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Eph. 1:7 NKJV)
It is only through the redemption with the blood of Christ that people will have the right to serve God:
“Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God. … Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.” (Heb. 9:14, 22 GNB)
For man to attain the right to serve God, he should first find out which was redeemed or purchased by the blood of Christ. This, Apostle Paul proves:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
Apostle Paul proves that it is only the Church Of Christ that the Lord Jesus Christ purchased or redeemed with His blood. Therefore, for man to be able to render the true worship to God, he must be inside the Church Of Christ. For only those who are inside the true Church have the right to fulfill man’s inherent duty to serve and worship God.
