Does it Pay to Serve God?

2. Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ (Job 21:7-15 ESV)

3. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. (Psalm 73:13-14 ESV)

4. Does it Pay to Serve God?

5. “Your words have been hard against me, says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? (Malachi 3:13-14 ESV) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:1-2 ESV)

6. Their words were… • wrong, 1:8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

7. Their words were… • Wrong, 1:8 • Wearying, 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

8. Their words were… • Wrong, 1:8 • Wearying, 2:17 • Wayward, 3:14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

9. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

10. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 • Snorted at & wearied, 1:13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD.

11. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 • Snorted at & wearied, 1:13 • Priests caused stumbling, 2:8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,

12. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 • Snorted at & wearied, 1:13 • Priests caused stumbling, 2:8 • Faithless to marr. cov., 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

13. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 • Snorted at & wearied, 1:13 • Priests caused stumbling, 2:8 • Faithless to marr. cov., 2:10 • Despised the Lord, 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

14. When their expectations were not met they blamed God • They polluted the altar, 1:8 • Snorted at & wearied, 1:13 • Priests caused stumbling, 2:8 • Faithless to marr. cov., 2:10 • Despised the Lord, 2:17 • Robbed God of tithes, 3:8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. They were really not serving God, but serving self

15. What is involved in “serving God”? Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)

16. What is involved in “serving God”? • Attitude, John 4:24 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)

17. What is involved in “serving God”? • Attitude, John 4:24 • Fellowship, Acts 2:42 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)

18. What is involved in “serving God”? • Attitude, John 4:24 • Fellowship, Acts 2:42 • Prayer, 1 Thess. 5:17 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)

19. What is involved in “serving God”? • Attitude, John 4:24 • Fellowship, Acts 2:42 • Prayer, 1 Thess. 5:17 • Faithfulness, Rev. 2:10 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV) Conclusion? Not doing these is not serving God.

20. Where then is the reward in serving God? • …a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. (Malachi 3:16-18 ESV)

21. Where then is the reward in serving God? See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now… (1 John 3:1-2 ESV)

22. Where then is the reward in serving God? No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

23. Where then is the reward in serving God? But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

24. Where then is the reward in serving God? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, (1 Peter 1:3-6 ESV)

25. We are saved to see God’s eternal perspective For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. (Psalm 73:3-8, ESV)

26. We are saved to see God’s eternal perspective . They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. (Psalm 73:9-14, ESV)

27. We are saved to see God’s eternal perspective But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Psalm 73:16-17 ESV)

28. We are saved to see God’s eternal perspective Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:23-28 ESV)

29. Those who are NOT serving God saw little profit in doing so. Those who were serving God enjoyed His benefits Which group are we in?