YOUR WALK WITH GOD MATTERS MORE THAN YOUR WORK FOR GOD
1SAMUEL 13:8-14
It is easy to become consumed by the busyness of Christian service and ministry. We can find ourselves caught up in the endless cycle of programs, events, and activities, all done in the name of God. While there is certainly a place for good works and Christian service, it is crucial that we do not lose sight of the most important thing - our personal walk with God.
The Bible is clear that our relationship with God must be the foundation upon which our service is built. It is our intimate connection with the Lord that gives our work true meaning and effectiveness. In this teaching, we will explore several key principles from Scripture that show how our WALK with God matters more than our WORK for God.
1. MARY AND MARTHA (Luke 10:38-42)
One of the clearest examples in the Bible of this principle is found in the story of Mary and Martha. As Jesus was passing through a village, he was invited to the home of these two sisters. Martha was bustling about, trying to prepare an elaborate meal and ensure everything was just right for their guest. Meanwhile, her sister Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet, simply enjoying his presence and soaking in his teaching.
When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping, his response was eye-opening: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).
The point Jesus was making is that Mary's devotion to him and her time spent in his presence was more important than all of Martha's frantic activity. While Martha's work was not bad in itself, it had become a distraction that was pulling her away from the most essential thing - her relationship with the Lord.
This story reminds us that our WALK with God must take priority over our WORK for God. It is easy to get caught up in Christian service and ministry, but if we neglect our personal time with the Lord, we will quickly become depleted and ineffective.
2. THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES (John 15:1-8)
In John 15, Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to illustrate the importance of our connection to him. He declares, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
The key point here is that our ability to bear fruit - to be effective in our service and ministry for God - is directly tied to our abiding relationship with Christ. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting spiritual fruit apart from our close walk with the Lord.
This passage emphasizes that our WALK with God is foundational to our WORK for God. The more we cultivate our intimacy with Christ, the more we will see the overflow of that in our service and ministry. Conversely, if we neglect our personal connection with the Lord, our work will ultimately become fruitless and ineffective.
3. THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR (Luke 18:9-14)
In this parable, Jesus contrasts the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee proudly recounts all of his religious activities and good deeds, while the tax collector simply cries out, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" (Luke 18:13).
The striking difference between these two men is not their WORK, but their WALK with God. The Pharisee was focused on his own accomplishments, while the tax collector had a humble, repentant heart before the Lord. Jesus makes it clear that "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other" (Luke 18:14).
This parable teaches us that God is far more concerned with the condition of our hearts than the outward appearance of our religious activities. A vibrant, humble walk with God is more precious to him than an impressive resume of Christian service. As the prophet Micah declared, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
4. THE DANGER OF DOING GOD'S WORK WITHOUT GOD'S POWER (1 Samuel 13:8-14)
In 1 Samuel 13, we see a sobering example of what can happen when we try to do God's work without relying on God's power. King Saul was instructed by the prophet Samuel to wait seven days for Samuel to arrive and offer a sacrifice before going into battle. However, Saul grew impatient and took it upon himself to make the sacrifice.
As soon as Saul finished the sacrifice, Samuel arrived and pronounced a harsh judgment: "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue" (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
Saul's downfall was not primarily due to the act of making the sacrifice itself, but rather his failure to wait on God and rely on God's timing and power. He allowed his own impatience and self-reliance to override his WALK with God, which ultimately undermined his WORK as king.
This is a sobering reminder that our Christian service and ministry must be grounded in an intimate, obedient relationship with the Lord. When we try to forge ahead in our own strength, apart from God's leading and empowerment, we open ourselves up to grave spiritual danger.
MAINTAINING A VIBRANT WALK WITH GOD IN THE MIDST OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE
As we've seen, the Bible is clear that our WALK with God must take priority over our WORK for God. However, in the day-to-day realities of Christian ministry and service, it can be challenging to keep that principle at the forefront. The demands of programs, events, meetings, and endless to-do lists can easily crowd out our time with the Lord.
So how do we ensure that our personal relationship with God remains vibrant and strong, even as we seek to be faithful in our service and ministry? Here are some key principles to consider:
1. SCHEDULE REGULAR TIME ALONE WITH GOD:
One of the greatest threats to our walk with God is the tyranny of the urgent. It's easy for our daily quiet times, prayer times, and study of the Word to get pushed to the side as we scramble to respond to the latest crisis or check off the next item on our ministry to-do list.
To combat this, we must be intentional about scheduling and protecting regular, uninterrupted time alone with the Lord. Whether it's an hour in the morning, a weekly half-day retreat, or a monthly spiritual getaway, carving out this sacred space is essential for maintaining intimacy with God.
2. CULTIVATE ONGOING AWARENESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE:
Beyond our scheduled times of solitude and prayer, we must learn to cultivate an ongoing awareness of God's presence throughout our day. This may involve practices like ongoing prayer, worship music, or simply pausing to refocus our hearts and minds on Him.
The reality is that we can't always withdraw from the demands of ministry - but we can choose to keep our hearts and minds attuned to God's Spirit even as we go about our tasks and responsibilities. This "practicing the presence of God" helps to ensure that our WALK with Him remains vibrant, even in the midst of our WORK for Him.
3. MAINTAIN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES:
Closely related to the previous point, regularly engaging in spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, meditation, and fasting is crucial for sustaining a deep, abiding connection with God. These practices help to keep our hearts soft, our minds focused, and our souls nourished.
It's easy for these disciplines to get pushed aside when ministry demands intensify. But we must fight to make them a priority, remembering that it is the health of our inner life that will ultimately determine the fruitfulness of our outer service.
4. BUILD IN RHYTHMS OF REST AND RENEWAL:
Another vital component of maintaining a vibrant walk with God is the regular practice of Sabbath rest and spiritual renewal. Jesus himself modeled this, as we see him frequently withdrawing from the crowds to spend time alone with the Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16).
Whether it's a weekly day of rest, an annual retreat, or periodic seasons of fasting and prayer, intentionally building in these rhythms of renewal is essential. Without them, we risk burning out and losing our spiritual vitality - which will inevitably impact the quality and effectiveness of our service.
5. CULTIVATE A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT:
Finally, we must recognize that we were not meant to navigate the challenges of Christian service alone. Surrounding ourselves with a community of believers who can encourage, support, and hold us accountable is a great gift.
Whether it's a small group, an accountability partner, or a spiritual mentor, having people in our lives who can speak truth, offer wisdom, and pray for us can make all the difference. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Maintaining a vibrant walk with God in the midst of the demands of Christian service is not easy, but it is essential. By being intentional about our time alone with God, cultivating an ongoing awareness of His presence, engaging in spiritual disciplines, building in rhythms of rest and renewal, and surrounding ourselves with a supportive community, we can ensure that our WALK with God remains the foundation and wellspring for our WORK for God.
This is not just a nice-to-have - it is the key to fruitfulness, joy, and lasting impact in our service. As the apostle Paul exhorted the Philippian church, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). Our spiritual work and service should be the natural outgrowth of our WALK with God, not the other way around.
The overarching message of Scripture is clear - our WALK with God matters more than our WORK for God. While Christian service and ministry are important, they must flow out of a vibrant, intimate relationship with the Lord. When we prioritize our time with God and the condition of our hearts, we will see that it naturally translates to more fruitful and effective service.