(Gen 15:13 KJV) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
This is the first reference to ‘serving’ in the Old Testament and it actually relates to a prophecy that was given to Abraham long, long before the Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years.
The only difference between ‘serving’ and ‘slavery’ is that one we do willingly for love or money and the other we do begrudgingly for little or nothing. Serving people and other creatures is one thing, but how does any man serve an omnipresent and omniscient God?
To serve means to give… and one cannot give anything… unless one has something of oneself to give and unless there is a recipient for what is being given. Usually we give our time, energy and produce to meet the needs and desires of someone else, most times this gift is solicited or expected, but often times it is unsolicited which is usually the best gift of all, because it is an unexpected surprise.
When it comes to our maker, the creator and owner of everything in the known universe… what can we possible give, that is needed or desired?
In Genesis, how did the first few men and women serve their maker?
(Gen 4:2-4 KJV) And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
People often say of gifts that... “It’s the thought that counts”… here we see two young men attempting to serve their maker without really knowing what their maker would appreciate. However, one picks stuff off the ground and gives it and the other tends and cares for some animals and gives their first born. In this instance it is not the ‘thought’ that counts, but the amount of ‘time and effort’ involved in producing and then selecting the best, which is then given-up as a sacrifice to ones beloved.
Not wishing to stray off topic… one has to ask the question… why was Abel tending animals anyway, surely God feeds and cares for the animals and at this time, before the flood creatures were not in fear or eating one another and man was not permitted to eat meat. So were these animals just being looked after in much the same way that humans these days tend to have cats and dogs, as pets or animal friends and not bred for food?
In this… is the answer to how we best serve God, since Abel was acting much like God in love… caring and tending for the animals and yet was willing to give the first of his little lambs, not withholding. While Cain was just lost and scratching around, without guidance. Somehow, you can’t help but feel sorry for Cain, he just ‘didn’t know what he was doing’ and was he really to blame or was he just the product of bad parenting by Adam and Eve, who lost themselves with respect to God?
Both young men gave unsolicited gifts, God never asked for these gifts and has no need for such physical sacrifices as expressions of love. So how else do men serve God and show their appreciation for this precious gift of life, if not by being faithful and true to their maker?
(Mat 4:10 KJV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
SERVING GOD