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 three 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 With Pay

“Tax collectors also came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’  ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them.  Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’  He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.’“
Luke 3:12-14 (NIV)

How much do you get paid?  Is it enough?  Do you think those are appropriate questions?  What do you think leads to the discontentment that many have with their pay?  How does your contentment, or lack of contentment, with your pay affect the way you serve?  Why?  Have you ever done less than you know you could have because, “I don’t get paid to do that!”?    Does your level of contentment with your pay say more about those paying you or about you?  What does it say about your view of those you are serving?

In a culture that measures worth by financial accumulation, there are few things that get us riled up as quickly as feeling unappreciated, overworked, and underpaid.  I know, I’ve allowed my mind to entertain those thoughts at various times in my life.  Experience says that the thing that suffers the most when we are not content with our pay, is the level of service given to those we are called to serve.  As you pray, ask God to help you know how to be content with your income.  Pray that the people you serve would not be “short-changed” because of your dissatisfaction with your pay.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who “works for the Lord”.

In prayer,

Tom