Is it possible to do anything in this life because you only want to or need to?
It could be said that there are times when we are forced to, but even when something is forced upon us against our will, that “need to” is only accepted because of the possible repercussions we do not desire to be placed upon us, at least in this life. Those in hell today could debate that point.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Can a servant of the Living God, one who has been hid in Christ, serve well without wanting to, can profitable service to the Lord be done when one does not want to perform the tasks that He has placed before us? Does the Almighty force us to serve Him against our will to want to serve?
Ask Jonah when you meet him.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
The need to serve, is it an actual need within you, do you have a driving desire to serve for His glory and no other reason, or do you feel you need to for any different reason? To remain, as it is said, in His good graces, or so that those who see you as an heir to the Kingdom of heaven will not see you as slothful in the work, so that you can quench those thoughts in your own mind that say, “I should be doing more” or “I am not doing enough.”
If you love Him, can you serve Him when you do not want to, can you obey His commandments without feeling that you need to.
“If you love me” is a commandment to the heart, those words speak to an action of our free will, it is a choice we make, a want because of love offered. If we do all that is commanded of us solely because we feel or believe we need to, and fulfill those requirements placed upon us, then we are counted as unprofitable.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1st Cor. 10:31)
Is there a third avenue, can a servant be counted as profitable when we perform our duties when we do not want to or feel a need to? Did Jonah, as it were, lose rewards because he fled, yet regained them as he walked through Nineveh, doing what he did not want to do, warning when he knew his life might be forfeited, is that why he then believed he needed to? Even when the great fish vomited him out on the dry land, he still had a choice.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)
In those times when you have said, “Not my will, but thine be done,” have you said them because you wanted to, without reservations or considerations to yourself, or because you believed you needed to, or something may be lost to you?
Can anything be done for the glory of God when we do not want to or feel a need to? Did the Lord Jesus Christ go to the cross because He wanted to, did He feel a need to, or was He simply obeying because it was the will of the Father?
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” (1st Cor. 13:1)
Love obeys, even when those thoughts of not wanting to arrive in our lives.
“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matt. 26:39)
Love obeys, even when it sees no reason, no need to.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
There is something in between that negates both wants and needs, and it is called love. Love does not consider what it wants, it does not contemplate what it needs, love obeys simply because of love.
“We love him, because he first loved us.” (1st John 4:19)
