Serving God with a Right Heart

 By: Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 2:1-11

 

Matthew 6:2-4

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

(ESV)

 

Court cases are intriguing to us because while judges take office swearing to judge based on evidence and the law, they are flawed humans and can error in their judgments. Since all humans have sinned (Romans 3:23), they can have a bias in their judgment based upon the sin in their lives. However, Jesus, the sinless Son of God has no such bias in His life and can judge according to righteousness with no sin bias. Jesus is also God and knows the hearts of people making it possible for Him to judge according to the Heart. God’s judgment is righteous because,

 

1)      There is only one righteous judge (Romans 2:1-5) – Romans 1:16-32 makes a comparison of the righteous living by faith versus God’s wrath on the unrighteous. Romans 1:26-32 describes the process of unrighteousness in one’s life leading to a life of sin. Romans 2:1-11 continues this thought with Romans 2:1-5 reminding those living in sin that they have no basis for judging others because they are guilty of the same sins they accuse others of committing. God’s judgment rightly falls on all who sin, but some use the grace and mercy of God as an excuse to continue in sin, believing God will forgive them (Romans 2:2-4). Those choosing to use the grace of God in such a manner continue to live enslaved to sin even though they are dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:1-11). Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23), there is no person qualified to judge others for only Christ lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus did not just live a sinless life, but he took the death penalty for our sins upon Himself (Romans 6:23).

2)      God judges the heart (Romans 2:6-11) – What one treasures in their heart indicates what is most important to a person (Matthew 6:21). The works God uses to render His judgment (Romans 2:6) are not works done to earn salvation for Jesus did that on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, the works used by God to render His righteous judgment are God’s judgment of the heart of one serving God. Those serving in a self-serving manner receive an immediate reward, potentially subjecting themselves to the wrath and fury of God and receive an immediate reward. Those serving to glorify God receive an eternal reward (Romans 2:7-10). God’s judgment is impartial and based upon what is in one’s heart (Romans 2:11).                   

 

Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23) no person is in a position to judge righteously. Only the one who knew no sin and chose to die for the sins of humanity has this position (2 Corinthians 5:21). From this position, Jesus as God can judge everyone according to his or her works. However, this appears to contradict Ephesians 2:8-9 that says salvation is a result of the grace of God and not one’s works. Paul is not speaking of one earning their salvation but the attitude one has in well-doing. For those doing good works in a self-serving manner, ignoring the truth of God’s Word in unrighteousness, the judgment is wrath and fury (Romans 2:8-9). However, for those with an attitude in well-doing that seeks to glorify and honor God, the reward is eternal life (Romans 2:10). Gold shows no partiality with his judgment rendered according to one’s attitude in well-doing.

 

We must each ask ourselves the question “why do I serve God?” If it is in a self-serving manner to look good to others, the reward is the wrath of the fury of God. We also do not serve God to earn our salvation but instead out of love for what God has done. Therefore, the attitude of a believer when serving God must be to give glory and honor to God. Those serving God with a self-serving agenda also receive an immediate reward (Matthew 6:2). Instead, one should serve God to bring glory and honor to God with an eternal reward (Matthew 6:3-4; Romans 2:7). One must serve God from a heart that treasures God (Matthew 6:21).

 

Having a right heart with God begins with one accepting the free gift of salvation offered by God’s free gift of salvation. If you have never accepted God’s gift of salvation, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.