Why Do You Serve God?

The conclusion to the Book of Job makes the most sense when you remember how the book began. Satan approached God in chapter one asking, “Does Job serve God for nothing?” Satan challenged God that no one really serves God for the right reasons. Humans serve God because God blesses us. Satan’s theory is if God removes His blessings than humans will cease following Him. Job becomes the case study for this.

The Book of Job functions like a courtroom trial or social experiment. What will Job do when God takes away all his blessings?

Job raises important questions, has serious doubts, and painful emotions toward God. He flirts with the idea briefly of turning away from God since faithfulness got him all this pain. Job decides against that and commits to following God no matter what.

Job proves he will serve God for nothing. If Job can do this, so can you. It really is possible for people to follow God for nothing.

What does that mean for you and me?

On one hand, it means you don’t follow God from a sense of fear or guilt. Yes, the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord. God’s judgment is serious so we should be with God instead of against God. All of us will be convicted of sin leading to a feeling of guilt. That guilt leads us to find forgiveness in Christ. Serving God for nothing means you don’t serve God because you feel bad or afraid or guilty.

On the other hand, you don’t serve God just for the benefits. There are great reasons to follow God. He forgave you of your sins. He provides a way through Jesus for you to join his family and receive eternal life. He listens to your prayers. He knows you by name and cares for you. He gives you good gifts. He gives you peace when life is chaotic. He gives you hope when you are hopeless.

When you are new in your faith you are motivated mainly either by fear or hope. Both are good and needed. But, at some point, you grow up in Christ to the point where you don’t need either to follow Christ.

Let me put it this way, sometimes you read your Bible because you feel guilty. Sometimes you read your Bible looking for an insight or encouraging word. Both are appropriate. We feel guilty because we haven’t given God the attention we should. The Bible does encourage and give powerful truths that help us. There should come a point where you read the Bible not because you are guilty or because you want an encouraging word. Instead, you read the Bible simply to be with God. It can be an encouraging time. It can be a time of correcting and repentance. It also doesn’t have to be any of those things. It can simply be.

As you mature in your faith you will reach a point where you want to be with God without being motivated one way or the other.

I have two questions for you to ask yourself to dig deeper into your motivations. The illustration of an iceberg is often used to explain how we only see so much above the surface. There is much more going on that we can’t see. Like how most of an iceberg is underwater. These questions will help you go beneath the surface.

Ready? Here are the two questions:

When does God frustrate you?

Why does that frustrate you?

Your answers to these questions will point out a hidden motivation or expectation you have of God.

Job’s story shows us you can follow God just because. God is your Creator. God is good and just and powerful. God is worth following even if he did nothing for you. But of course, He did everything for you. He created this world. He saved you from your sins.

There is great freedom in following God for nothing. Laying down your expectations and hidden motivations opens you up for a deeper relationship with God.

So, ask yourself those two questions. Dig into your heart with the Lord. Discover why you God.

If you aren’t following Jesus, take the time to ask yourself why. Explore resources about Christianity. You can reach out to one of our pastors here to talk more about Jesus.