For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8–9
A hired laborer works because payment is promised. He measures his effort against the wage, watches the clock and asks, “What am I receiving for this?” A volunteer, however, serves from a different place.
J. C. Ryle wrote, “None, generally speaking, do so much for Christ on earth as those who enjoy the fullest confidence of a free entrance into heaven, and trust not in their own works, but in the finished work of Christ. That sounds surprising, I dare say, but it is true.”
At first, this may seem backward. We might assume that people work hardest when trying to earn God’s approval. And certainly many religious systems and cults have exploited that! Yet the gospel of the Bible removes that burden. Christ has already completed the work that secures our acceptance before God. Salvation is not a paycheck handed to those who labor long enough. It is a gift received by faith.
This changes Christian service. We do not obey as anxious employees trying to keep our position. We serve as grateful people who have been welcomed, forgiven and loved. We are not working for a place in the Father’s house; we are working because Christ has brought us home.
Hired labor asks, “How much must I do?” Grace asks, “How much may I give?” Fear produces temporary effort, but gratitude produces joyful endurance. The believer who knows heaven is freely opened through Christ can spend himself without trying to purchase what has already been given.
It's worth taking time to evaluate what motives drive our service.
Joe Ensley