Happy Servant

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Verse of the Day: Matthew 5: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 4-5 Matthew 24:29-51

Happy Servant

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. (Matthew 6:2)

What reward have these people received? They may have felt satisfaction in the attention they received from the community who witnessed their humanitarian acts. They might have done these things because it makes them ‘feel good’ as we hear so often. The ‘feel good’ is short lived and addicting.

In Matthew 24:46, Jesus speaks to this again. This is what it says in the International Children’s Bible: “46 When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be very happy.”

In most other translations it says, “Blessed is the servant…” So, I looked in the Greek and found this word translated as blessed and happy. The Children’s Bible chose to use ‘happy’ for comprehension sake.

This puts a different light on the meaning of this verse for me.

The Master is happy with the obedient servant.

The servant is happy because he was doing the Master’s work.

Also, I believe, this means the servant was happy doing the right things before the master returns.

The Greek actually says: “Happy is the servant whom the Master will come and thus find doing.”

The hypocrites get noticed because they want to get noticed and enjoy a momentary ego boost. Jesus said that’s all they get.

The servant lives in obedience because His happiness is in His Master’s happiness. ‘When’ the Master comes, the servant knows he will be found faithful.

Our happiness in Christ is divine happiness born from divine love. Obedience, then, is not an obligatory response but a loving response to our limitlessly, loving Master.

Psalm 16:11

11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.…

Running after happiness of the world leads directly into sin.

Running to God for joy is a Biblical command.

Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

...because He loves us…

Father in heaven,

How glorious are the delights in Your presence. Your kingdom peace and wisdom come and give me Your bread for this day. Forgive me my harsh judgments. Lead me away from evil.

Great and Holy Master,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen