It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day two in the second week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Contentment Through a Fear of the Lord

“The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.“
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

Is a fear of the Lord a good thing or bad thing to you?  Why?  Are there different ways to fear the Lord?  Should how we fear the Lord be different based on our relationship with Him?  Are there people in your life with whom you are content to just be with because of your great respect for them?  What leads to that level of contentment in their presence?  How would having a greater trust and respect for God lead to greater contentment in your life?  How does your fear of the Lord help you to serve with greater contentment?

When I bought my first car a few months before I turned 16, my parents told me that if I wrecked it, the keys would belong to them.  A few months after my 16th birthday, I took a curve too fast and slid off the road and into a fence requiring a tow truck to get me back on the road.  When I arrived home, the first thing I did was to give my keys to my parents.  Not that I was ever “afraid” of them, but the great respect I have for my parents led me to be content in doing what they had asked.  As you pray, ask God to help you to see that a proper fear of the Lord can lead you to great contentment.  Pray that you would learn to serve others with contentment because you fear God.

In prayer,

Tom