In the book of Malachi we hear the prophet giving a prophecy to Israel regarding their standing with God. In verse 13 we hear one of God’s accusations toward them

You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’

Its interesting that the people weren’t even aware of what they had done. God reminds them.

“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’” Malachi 3:13-15

What do we gain from serving God is their question. I think this is such a true statement for today. Too often our following of God is based on some kind of contractual agreement.

“if I live my life for God and sacrifice A,B and C, then I will receive good stuff from Him.”

We sometimes live our lives as it we are doing God a favour, like He owes us because we’ve tried to do some nice Christian things. It sounds crazy when we write it out like this but it is a very common way to think or behave.

Of course the reality is that God owes us nothing because He has given us everything. We don’t follow him, and order our lives around Him, because we might receive something in return, we do this as a loved response to what He did on the cross through Jesus.

So in one sense we do it for no gain whatsoever. However the irony is that a life lived out loud for Jesus will always be the most rewarding – we will gain so much because of God’s goodness and His generosity.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21