Reasonable Service

When a business is a family business, the employees who are part of the family have a vested interest to work harder, longer and better than those employees who are not family.

I work for a "family" business.  Our hospital was started by a husband and wife over forty years ago.  What began as a small medical venture is now one of the largest and most successful hospitals in our town.  The husband has long since passed away and after his death his wife ran the business.  Now their children play an active roll in the leadership as well.

As Christians, we are part of a "family business." Remember when the Lord Jesus was left at Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph?  His answer to their inquiries was, "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49.)  

When we trust in the Lord Jesus, we become part of the family.  We are adopted into the family of God.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:15-18.)

We are family, and as such we are called to a higher degree of performance.  The Apostle Paul called it our "reasonable service."

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1.)

Our calling is to be about our Father's business, to do what it is He calls us to do, with holiness, in a manner that is acceptable to Him.  Because we are family, our motive for service is not just that of an employee.  We have a heart desire to see our "family business" prosper and grow, out of love and dedication to our family.  We want to do those things which please our Father.  

Let us always keep this motive foremost in our hearts and minds.  The truest desire of our heart is to follow His will, glorify His Son and always do those things which please Him.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God." 

I Corinthians 10:31.