“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36)
Twice that we are told of, but not the third time, then He looked on them and said the only reason that you are following me is because you want to be fed again.
Does that sound like some people you know that claim to follow the Lord Jesus Christ? Nearly every prayer centers around themselves in some shape or form, they want something from Him, better health, more security in the world and the life they live, plenty of this or that with no inconveniences. What do you think, do you think that He still looks on people today and says those same words, “You are only following me because you want something from me.”
Servants are to serve, they accept what they are given, complaining is not acceptable in the eyes of a master from a servant. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” (Phil. 2:14) It is the master’s responsibility to take care of His servants, those who serve well are rewarded. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt. 25:21) Those who do not are found to be unprofitable.
The question then today is, does the Lord keep those servants who are unprofitable to the Kingdom? “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.” (Matt. 25:28)
This is not the only age that it has happened in I’m sure, but it is much more prevalent than ever before, those who claim to know Jesus Christ as Lord treat Him more like their servant than fulfilling John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” They want to be healed; they reject the notion that the Lord left Lazarus at the gate of the rich man until he died on purpose. They want to have all of the necessities of life, or at least the ones they believe are needed for their existence, the material items that keep them from being inconvenienced, those that bring a form of comfort to their minds, and they expect the Almighty to provide those items for them. They want to experience a continuous state of security, not only financially, but in all manner of life, they do not want the cares of the world to knock on their door. And they expect God to make sure their life continues unabated until the end, when death will come in their sleep at a ripe old age.
“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matt. 10:24) But they are trying hard to be so, they believe they are profitable because they are good people, and they expect the Lord to take care of them without truly serving Him.
I do not know for sure when this idea of attending church became the proof of one’s salvation, when baptism supposedly proved that a person belongs to God, when following the ordinances and traditions of a religious organization was the proof that one loves Jesus Christ, but it seems to be the normal thought process today. They believe they are glorifying God by deeds done out of an obligation, but not for the love of the Savior.
“Take care of me in the way that I best see fit, provide all of my needs like you promised, and a great deal of my wants. Keep me safe, healthy and secure at all times, do not let any unforeseen circumstances come upon my path that would cause me to lose anything that I own or love, and I will serve you.”
And they expect the Master to obey them.
The God of provisions and provider of all our selfish desires, that is who they serve, but that God does not exist. Take away everything that a man has and you leave him with nothing, take away everything that a born-again believer has, and he still has Christ, and that is all he ever needed, or wanted.
