Serving with Humility: Glorifying God Through Our Actions

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart Behind Our Actions

True righteousness is not about the quantity of our good deeds but the quality of our heart and motives. Our actions should be rooted in a spirit of humility and dependence on God, not self-righteousness or pride. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector serves as a poignant reminder that outwardly virtuous actions can be in vain if not rooted in the right spirit. Jesus emphasized that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting the importance of our motives and attitudes in our actions. It is not enough to simply perform good deeds; the essence of doing good is found in the spirit and reliance on God that accompanies them. [00:48]

Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV): "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Reflection: Think of a recent good deed you performed. What was your true motivation behind it, and how can you ensure your future actions are rooted in humility and dependence on God?

Day 2: Serving with God's Strength

Serving God requires reliance on His strength, not our own. When we serve with a heart that acknowledges God's provision, our actions become a testament to His glory. In 1 Peter 4:10-11, we find guidance on how to serve in a way that glorifies God. It teaches us that our actions should be done in dependence on the strength God provides, not in our own strength. This means that our good deeds should be carried out with a spirit of humble reliance and joyful dependence on God. By doing so, we allow our service to reflect God's power and grace, rather than our own abilities. [04:56]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are relying on your own strength. How can you begin to depend on God's strength in this area today?

Day 3: Recognizing Our Gifts as Divine

Our abilities and strengths are gifts from God, and recognizing this should lead us to humility and gratitude. This perspective transforms our service into an act of worship. When we acknowledge that everything we have is from God, we become humble, grateful, and joyful in our service, allowing God to receive the glory. This understanding shifts our focus from self-reliance to a deep appreciation for God's provision, encouraging us to use our gifts for His purposes. [09:06]

James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific talent or ability you possess. How can you use this gift to serve others and glorify God this week?

Day 4: The Heart of True Service

The story of the two individuals highlights the difference between serving out of self-interest and serving with a heart of gratitude and reliance on God. True service is about letting our light shine through our dependence on Him. One individual acts out of self-interest and pride, while the other, despite physical limitations, serves with joy and gratitude, acknowledging God's provision. This contrast shows that true service is not about the act itself but the heart and spirit behind it. [08:08]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: Consider a service opportunity you have this week. How can you approach it with a heart of gratitude and reliance on God, rather than self-interest?

Day 5: Humility and Joy in Dependence

Acknowledging our dependence on God for life and strength leads to a humble and joyful spirit in our good deeds. This attitude ensures that God, not ourselves, receives the glory. Recognizing our dependence on Him should lead us to humility and gratitude, transforming how we serve and do good. When we serve with this mindset, our actions become a reflection of God's love and grace, drawing others to Him. [10:05]

Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV): "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a spirit of humility and joy in your daily life, acknowledging your dependence on God for all things?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, it's crucial to discern whether our good deeds are genuinely glorifying God or merely acts of self-righteousness. Reflecting on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, we are reminded that outwardly virtuous actions can be in vain if not rooted in the right spirit. Jesus emphasized that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting the importance of our motives and attitudes in our actions. The essence of doing good is not just in the deeds themselves but in the spirit and reliance on God that accompanies them.

In 1 Peter 4:10-11, we find guidance on how to serve in a way that glorifies God. It teaches us that our actions should be done in dependence on the strength God provides, not in our own strength. This means that our good deeds should be carried out with a spirit of humble reliance and joyful dependence on God. The story of two individuals deciding whether to help clean the church illustrates this point. One acts out of self-interest and pride, while the other, despite physical limitations, serves with joy and gratitude, acknowledging God's provision. This contrast shows that true service is about letting our light shine through our reliance on God, not just our actions.

We are reminded that all our abilities and strengths are gifts from God. Recognizing our dependence on Him should lead us to humility and gratitude, transforming how we serve and do good. When we acknowledge that everything we have is from God, we become humble, grateful, and joyful in our service, allowing God to receive the glory.

Key Takeaways

1. True righteousness is not about the quantity of our good deeds but the quality of our heart and motives. Our actions should be rooted in a spirit of humility and dependence on God, not self-righteousness or pride. [00:48]
2. Serving God requires reliance on His strength, not our own. When we serve with a heart that acknowledges God's provision, our actions become a testament to His glory. [04:56]
3. Our abilities and strengths are gifts from God, and recognizing this should lead us to humility and gratitude. This perspective transforms our service into an act of worship. [09:06]
4. The story of the two individuals highlights the difference between serving out of self-interest and serving with a heart of gratitude and reliance on God. True service is about letting our light shine through our dependence on Him. [08:08]
5. Acknowledging our dependence on God for life and strength leads to a humble and joyful spirit in our good deeds. This attitude ensures that God, not ourselves, receives the glory. [10:05]
** [10:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
[00:48] - Exceeding the Righteousness of the Pharisees
[01:15] - Doing Good for God's Glory
[02:14] - Letting Your Light Shine
[03:05] - Serving with God's Strength
[04:10] - Gifts and Stewardship
[05:15] - The Story of Two Servants
[06:34] - God's Perspective on Service
[07:41] - Joyful Dependence on God
[08:51] - Recognizing Our Dependence
[09:36] - Humility and Gratitude in Service
[10:22] - Conclusion and Reflection
[11:10] - Upcoming Topics and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 18:11-12
- Matthew 5:20
- 1 Peter 4:10-11

Observation Questions:

In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, what specific actions did the Pharisee take that were considered virtuous by societal standards? ([00:23])
According to Matthew 5:20, what does Jesus say about the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, and how should our righteousness compare? ([00:48])
How does 1 Peter 4:10-11 describe the way we should use our gifts in service to others? ([04:10])
What are the contrasting attitudes and outcomes of the two individuals deciding whether to help clean the church? ([06:52])

Interpretation Questions:

Why does Jesus emphasize that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? What does this imply about the nature of true righteousness? ([00:48])
How does the story of the two individuals cleaning the church illustrate the difference between serving out of self-interest and serving with a heart of gratitude and reliance on God? ([06:52])
In what ways does 1 Peter 4:10-11 suggest that our service should be carried out? How does this relate to the concept of glorifying God through our actions? ([04:10])
What does it mean to let your light shine in the context of doing good deeds, according to the sermon? How does this relate to our motives and attitudes? ([02:14])

Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent good deed you performed. What was your motivation behind it, and how can you ensure your future actions are rooted in humility and dependence on God? ([02:53])
Consider the story of the two individuals deciding whether to help clean the church. How can you cultivate a spirit of joyful dependence on God in your own acts of service? ([06:52])
Identify a gift or ability you have. How can you use it to serve others in a way that acknowledges God's provision and brings Him glory? ([04:10])
Think about a time when you relied on your own strength rather than God's. How did that affect the outcome, and what steps can you take to rely more on God's strength in the future? ([04:56])
How can recognizing that all your abilities and strengths are gifts from God lead you to a more humble and grateful approach to service? ([09:06])
What practical steps can you take this week to ensure that your actions reflect a heart of gratitude and reliance on God, rather than self-interest or pride? ([08:08])
How can you encourage others in your community to serve with a heart that glorifies God? What role can you play in fostering this attitude within your small group or church? ([10:05])

Sermon Clips

It's possible to be a kind of do-gooder, a kind of philanthropist, benefactor, who, for one reason or another, uses his or her money to alleviate suffering and not even believe in God, let alone do it all for his glory. And that creates a kind of problem. Can't just be merely good deeds then can it that gives God glory? [00:01:19]

When Jesus said, you are the light of the world, he didn't just mean the bodily motions through which you go in doing good deeds. He meant you, your attitude, your motive, the spirit that you exude in those good deeds. That's what it means to let your light shine. There is a way to do good deeds that will bring glory to God. [00:01:56]

As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever speaks, let him speak as one who utters oracles of God. Whoever renders service, let him render it as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything God might be glorified through Jesus Christ. [00:04:08]

For God to get glory in our lives, the good we do must be done in dependence upon the strength which he gives and not in our own. Not mere good deeds, but good deeds done in a spirit of humble reliance and joyful dependence on the provision of God. [00:04:56]

God looks on the heart and his assessment of that man's contribution is this: I got no glory from that effort because it was not done in reliance upon me. It was not done in a spirit of humble trust and joyful acceptance of life and gift from me. [00:06:29]

And he exudes a kind of joy and gratitude for life and everybody's attention through him is appointed to God from whom he has acknowledged receiving this help. His whole bearing and his whole demeanor exude that God is getting the credit for his being there and God is getting the credit for every little swipe of the rag or push of the broom. [00:08:02]

All the strength we have is from God. All the fibers of our brain and our intelligence are a gift from God. Every piece of resolve that we can muster to do good is a gift of God. What do you have that you did not receive, Paul said to the Corinthians. [00:08:45]

Oh how differently we would serve and do good if it would once hit us with all its force how utterly dependent we are on God for life and breath and everything. We would not boast in our achievements, we would not criticize the speck in our brother's eye, we would not grumble about inconveniences. [00:09:27]

A person who truly owns up to the fact that he exists by the word of God, and that all his strength and moral resolve comes from God, is going to be a humble and lowly and grateful and joyful person in all the good deeds that he does and in serving that way God and not himself will get glory. [00:09:55]

Such a concrete tangible way to explain this point of serving independence in the strength that God supplies so that our sacrifices honor him. This was taken from the early weeks of John Piper's brand new pastorate at Bethlehem Baptist Church in a sermon titled how to do good so that God gets the glory. [00:10:18]

Well if my flesh was crucified with Christ on the cross then why do I still sin? That's a question we get all the time because it's a great question on a lot of minds, a question rooted in glory strews we find in Colossians 2 verses 11 to 12. [00:11:04]

I am your host Tony Reinke. We're rejoining in studio with Pastor John when we return on Friday to look at that text. See you then. [00:11:17]

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