Jump Start # 3774
Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”
The Hebrew brethren were at an intersection in their faith. Some have already decided which way they were going to go, and it wasn’t with the Lord. Things were tough and life was a lot easier just being a plain ole’ Jew and sticking with the familiar O.T. system. In the tenth chapter, we get a picture of what many of the Christians were enduring. There was a “great conflict of suffering” (10:32). They were made “public spectacles” (10:33). Some were prisoners (10:34). Some had their property seized (10:34).
As a result, some turned their back to the Lord and returned to the way things were before. They had “forsaken the assembling” of the saints (10:25). This was more than missing a Wednesday night Bible class. They quit coming all together.
So, sprinkled through the book are words of encouragement, reminders and hope. The best way is in Christ. One of those reminders is our verse today. God won’t forget what you have done. God saw how you helped others and served others.
And, what a needful reminder to us. God knows. We sometimes wonder, “Does anyone care?” Or, “Does anyone even notice?” And, with that, some conclude, “why even try, because no one seems to notice.” Yet, our verse reminds us that God does not forget your work. Others may forget, God doesn’t.
So, here are some important observations from this:
First, God knowing is the most important. Not only is God aware of what we have done, He knows our motives and purpose. Are we doing good to help others, or are we trying to make a name for ourselves? God knows. God knows what sacrifices we’ve had to make to help others. God knows how hard it was to serve others. God knows how we struggle and how our hearts love one another.
Second, not only does God know, but God won’t forget. Boy, we forget. We sometimes can’t even get a story straight from a few years ago. And, the person we have helped and the way we have served the kingdom may be forgotten by others, but God remembers. If we have been busy in the kingdom as we ought to be, there will be decades of encouragements, studies, food taken, hearts strengthened, cards sent, phone calls made, gifts given and prayers offered. We don’t keep a list. We don’t expect anything in return. We are just happy to serve in the kingdom. We are glad to be useful. And, it is very easy for us to forget all that we have done. God hasn’t.
Nehemiah ends with the prayer, “Remember me for good.”
Third, although God remembers how we have ministered to others, let us not think that Heaven is ours because of what we have done. That quickly turns into a work-based salvation. Those that do the most, will be more honored than those who did not do so much, is how some see things. Salvation is wrapped around the grace of God. It’s not our accomplishments, but rather, the love of God that saves us. Grace through faith is what the Ephesians were told.
There will always be some in the kingdom who do more than you do. More opportunities than you had. More talent than you had. More time than you had. But, it’s not a contest about who has done the most. We don’t put Peter and Paul side by side and try to figure out which of the two were the best. God would have no part of that and neither should we when it comes to what we do.
Do the best that you can. Do all that you can. And, in the end, that is all that can be expected of you.
God remembers…what a wonderful thought.
Roger