10. Meditation: Chapter 9. The Principles Of Services

Chapter 9

The Principles Of Services

John 6:1-21

The fourth sign of John's gospel in this chapter is a touchstone whichtested out the spiritual condition of the disciples and Jews. We also could receive spiritual education from this sign. Oh, for anointing to teach us more!

The Money-Trap

The sayings of Philip and Andrew contain some important principles of service. Here Philip tried to meet the need of a great crowd by buying loaves with the "money". In Philip's old natural conception, he probably thought that the more money he could have at his disposal, the more effectual the service would be. That is thoroughly wrong idea about God's service! The valuable and effectual services chiefly depend on the good and mature quality of spirituality of Lord's servant. For the nature of service is spiritual. To cultivate the excellent spirituality (Daniel 5:12; 6:3) should be our high priority. Unfortunately, the modern Christianity fails to recognize this important truth, and today the money predominates the service evilly. To spend much money to promote Christian religious activities is not the guarantee of spiritual revival among saints. Let us remember a truthful fact that money are secondary in the realm of service, and the spiritual ministry is not based on the uncertain money. If we continue to set our eyes upon money, we will lose the spiritual influence, impact and testimony toward the covetous and avaricious world unwarily.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), an influential theologian of medieval times, once visited the Vatican and was amazed at the wealth of Vatican. And a clergyman looked at him and said: You see, Thomas, now the church can no longer say what Peter said in Acts chapter 3 "silver and gold have I none". Thomas Aquinas replied wisely: Neither can we say "at the name of Jesus, rise up and walk". The one of greatest hindrances to the power of God working among His saints is the silver and gold. Today we had rather trust in material possessions than trust in our living God (1 Timothy 6:17; Proverbs 23:4-5). That is our weakness before God.

Besides money could be our snare and trap. Watch out the Lord's warning: "you can not serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:15; 16:13).

Who Hath Despised The Day Of Small Things?

Here the sayings of Andrew set forth an important spiritual principle for the assembly (church) in the end-time. The characteristics of Lord's work in last days are smallness, littleness and condensation with a view of intensifying and forming the measure of Christ within the saints by the work of Christ's cross. 

Today the modern Christianity conceives an unhealthy conception of "bigness and greatness", and desires to be the noticeable and famous something on the earth. They are developing the "mega church", and exalt the man of good countenance, not exalt the crucified Christ. The big development of earthly Christianity is just like the grain of mustard seed grow abnormally into a big tree (Matthew 13:31-32), and many profane and evil things, values and standards from the Satan invade massively as the birds of heaven come and roost in its branches. Please bear in mind that the scriptural principle is smallness and littleness (Zechariah 4:10; Luke 12:32; Matthew 18:1-6, 10; Mat. 22:14, 25:21).

Serving Through Brokenness

The principle and law of service is brokenness and suffering. When the Christ's love constrains us, we spontaneously follow the steps of Lord and devote ourselves to His revealed will and His divine purpose as the little boy in this chapter consecrated his small all to the Lord's need. But that is just the beginning. Before too long we will begin to experience the painful process of being broken (like the broken five barley loaves and two small fishes) because the Lord is going to do His divine work in us so that we could be conformed to the image of Christ gradually. We will undergo trials of faith, fiery tests, severe temptations, manifold persecutions, sorrows, pains, heartbreaks and disappointments. We will suffer for Christ because we love Him and stand for His interests and testimony. Such an experience of brokenness and suffering is not due to our sinning against the Lord. The truthful and consoling fact is that He sovereignty chooses and counts us worthy to suffer for Him. To suffer for Him is actually a divine privilege, gift and prize (Colossians 1:24-25). He knows that we will glorify Him more greatly by His grace in the sufferings. And He also cares about us and cherishes every bit of our experiences of being broken. Our faithful and merciful Lord is gathering our broken experiences with His twelve handbaskets so that our labours and sufferings in Christ will not be lost and in vain. He is putting our precious tears into His bottle (Psalm 56:8).

Furthermore, only the service and ministry which undergo the costly brokenness could satisfy the needy and hungry souls. The fruitful and effectual services are based on sacrificial brokenness for other people. Thereal ministry is the effect of brokenness. Please spend some time to meditate on the sufferings of Job and apostle Paul. What the fruitful and effectual services which they render! Today we still live in the good of their fruits of suffering and travail. They paid the costly price and endure the manifold tribulations for the spiritual welfare of God's assembly. 

A good doctor is the man who suffers from the similar diseases of his patients beforehand. What about us? May God correct and adjust our imperfect and immature notions about the sufferings and services!

No Cross, No Crown

The men want to make Jesus king after this sign. This is a wonderful chance for Him to vindicate that He is the king by the ardent approval ofmen. In this situation, His disciples also desire to crown Him as their Jewish king in such a tumultuous atmosphere. What is the reaction of Jesus? He dismissed the crowd and departed to the mountain himself alone! What a disappointment to the crowd and the disciples!

The heavenly life of Jesus would never agree with the opinions of earthly people. Himself alone is on the spiritual high places and untouched by the earthly filthiness. The point is that Jesus must enthrone through the cross. Jesus is the king! Yes, but He is the "crucified king"! And His crown is plaited by the thorns. 

Sadly the gospel which we preach today is missing the cross. The ministry of apostle Paul puts much emphasis upon the cross and Christ (1Corinthians 2:2). The cross and Christ are enough for us. The evil trend and falsehood of "successful theology" which prevails among the modern Christians is the enemy of the cross of Christ. Many Christians are pursuing after the earthly prosperity, success, blessing and ambition, but neglect that our most precious blessings are spiritual and heavenly (Ephesians 1:3).What they desire is the blessings, not sufferings. 

To suffer and to bear the cross of Lord is too difficult for the modern Christians because we just want to walk in the smooth and easy way, not the thorny and difficult way. But that is an absurd illusion rooted in our old natural man. For all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (Acts 14:22). Let us wake up! Do we hunger for the glorious crown as the prize from the Lord in that day? Remember: No cross, no crown! The pathway to the throne is the way of cross. If we endure the cross, we shall reign together with Him. If indeed we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified with him. The salvation of deliverance from sin is free, but the glorious crown as the prize is costly. May the love of Christ encourage us to pay the costly price!