Last week I talked about two results of the three non-negotiable disciples. The first is intimacy with God. The second is integrity of character. After wrestling with it for a week, I believe there is a third one.
I am reminded of something I wrote about in the fifth article of this series when I quoted a parachurch leader who said he was surprised at how insecure leaders are. Along with the reasons I gave in that article, I believe we have to add that leaders don’t know or don’t understand who they are in Christ.
Typically most will grow up wanting to please his or her parents. This is natural for there is an innate desire for approval. This desire carries over to wanting approval from others: grandparents, teachers, and uncles and aunties. There is sometimes a reward attached to the approval. I remember growing up small-kid-time I would always try to be on my grandmother’s good side so I could get lisee (money in a red envelope with Chinese writing). In elementary school I would try to get good grades so my teacher would put my name on the board and my parents would be pleased with my report card.
But something interesting happens when one comes to know Jesus. Theologically, there is no longer any need to earn man’s approval, but Christians still have a desire “to earn” in four different ways.
The first is the desire to earn one’s salvation. The thinking goes like this, “Jesus died for me therefore I must pay Him back for all He did for me. Thus I will serve.” Do you see the irony of this kind of thinking? Ephesians 2:8 says salvation is a gift, however when you try to pay for a gift, it is no longer a gift.
Imagine it’s Christmas. Throughout December people are giving you all kinds of gifts: cookies, gift certificates, a funny shirt, mugs, and so on. Then on December 26 you begin to write a check to every individual who gave you something, which you include in your thank you note. That sounds silly, doesn’t it? But that’s what happens when we try to pay Jesus back by serving.
I’ve seen this happen time and time again. People serve because they are trying to pay God back. They will even serve to the point of exhaustion because they believe the more they serve the more they are paying God back. But here’s what happens: when we try to pay God back for His gift of salvation, we rob Him of His glory. When we serve to return what has been given to us as a gift, we diminish His gift.
Therefore, one doesn’t need to pay God back. When one serves, it is because of obedience and calling.
The second is the desire to earn God’s approval. Here’s what some believers think, “In order to receive God’s blessings, I need to be obedient. If I’m not obedient, then I won’t get His blessings. Therefore I will try to earn His approval.” Thus a believer will try to do good things, serve in many ministries, go to a small group, give during offering time. Why? Because he/she hopes that God will smile upon him/her. They have placed God’s approval or God’s blessings as the end goal, rather than glorifying God.
Dr. Michael Palompo once said something that is very profound, “You were accepted before you were even acceptable.” Wow! That means God accepted me before I even became a Christian. That means I don’t have to earn God’s approval. I am already approved by God.
I’m reminded of what happened at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3. When Jesus came out of the water, a voice came from heaven, “This is My son, with whom I am well pleased.” Please understand how freeing this is. Jesus had not done one miracle, He had not called one disciple, He had not healed anyone. He had not done any ministry yet God was already pleased with Him.
Therefore, we don’t have to earn God’s approval; we are already approved. We obey not to get His approval; we obey to become more like Jesus.
Next week I will continue with the last two items.
Questions to Think About:
Have you been trying to earn God’s salvation by paying back for His gift through service?
Have you been trying to earn God’s approval so you can receive His blessings and favor?
© Gary Lau 2013
All rights reserved. This article may not be distributed, forwarded or duplicated without prior permission from the author.
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