His Commandments Are Not Grievous

Shortly before beginning my second year at S.O.W.E.R.S., I was reminded of a great truth from God’s Word pertaining to the heart of the servant. While talking with another brother in Christ over the summer, I made a foolish comment about my work in the movement of God’s Word. I had felt over-worked and irritated. For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that I would be exhausted for the rest of my life. Later that day, I was studying and was reproved by God out of the Word.

1 John 5:2-3 (Working Translation)

By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and practice His commandments.

In fact, the love of God is this: that we keep His commandments. Furthermore, His commandments are not oppressive [weighty].

We can lose sight of what’s important in our work in the ministry. It’s important to take a step back every now and then to reexamine our heart and our thinking.

“Why am I doing what I’m doing?”

The commandments of God are not oppressive, weighty, or ”grievous” as the King James Version renders verse 3 of 1 John 5. The service that is set before workers of the Word is not a burden. The five senses conditioned man could perceive that work is a burden, but the work that we do for God is never that way. We love each other by keeping God’s commandments and loving God. No service done, or love for God and His people, is out of cold obligation. When we control our thinking accordingly and believe this truth, we see it come into fruition. The commandments of God are not oppressive. So, if the idea of work being oppressive didn’t come from God, it must have come from another source: the Adversary.

God will, however, put you to work when you ask him to. Don’t be surprised; God answers prayer! However, God promises us wonderful blessings as we obey. I would like to give an example of a list of blessings that God had once promised to the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 28:1-13

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

God doesn’t just bless us in one area or aspect of life. He blesses us in all manner of life. These promises were given to the children of Israel who did not have the advantage of Sonship that we have in our day and time. They did not have the gift of holy spirit that we have. How much more would God do for His children as we continue to obey! We have much to look forward to in our obedience toward God.

It’s important when faced with any temptation to pinpoint the source.

1 Corinthians 7: 22-23 (Working Translation)

In fact, he who was called in the lord when he was a servant is the lord’s emancipated servant. Likewise he who was free is Christ’s servant.

You were purchased with a price. So do not become servants of men.

We can only feel burdened by working for God when we lose sight of who we work for! Believers are not to be the servants of men, but rather to Christ. The paradox is that the more we yield ourselves servants to the Lord, the more free we truly become.

After being reproved and corrected, I wanted to make sure that I was keeping an eye on this temptation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, after all.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (Working Translation)

Be vigilant. Stand fast in the [right way of] believing. Conduct yourselves like mature men. Be strong.

Do your all with love.

Once we understand where error is coming from and it has been corrected, we must continue to be vigilant, alert, or watchful in order to keep from falling back into the rut. Believers are to conduct themselves maturely and to be strong. Verse 14 of this chapter then reminds us to do our all with love. Everything must be rooted and grounded in that love of God in the renewed mind without hypocrisy.