Have you ever wondered why there is such a high “drop-out” rate among Christians in churches today – including fewer and fewer Christians who are eager to serve the Lord? Could it be that these Christians have not come to realize that joy in the service unto the Lord is directly related to one’s own heart condition? Sometimes Christians flee the Lord’s churches and His service because they associate with other Christians who show no joy or gladness of heart. Sometimes it is caused by hardship – albeit physical, financial, emotional, and marital – and God is often blamed for their “peril”. Sometimes it is caused by the frame of mind that some Christians have. Nonetheless, most of the time the lack of joy and gladness of heart in Christians is caused by a lack of service unto the Lord – beginning with a heart fixed on serving the Lord.
Throughout the Scriptures we find that when the people of God were “half-hearted” in their service unto Him – their hearts quickly strayed away from Him. In 2 Chronicles 12 we read of king Rehoboam. Instead of serving the Lord with gladness of heart and by following God’s Word, we find how Rehoboam led the people.
2 Chronicles 12:1 states,
“And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.”
Then, we read in 2 Chronicles 12:14,
“And he did evil, because he prepared [set / fixed] not his heart to seek the LORD.”
In Israel there was no joy under the reign of Rehoboam. In fact, 2 Chronicles 15:3 states,
“Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.”
And, 2 Chronicles 15:5 states,
“And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.”
This could still be stated today. Half-heartedness in serving God is a serious mistake. It gives no satisfaction unto our Lord. It leads to no height of Christian worth – and no excellence of character among the Lord’s people. And it truly will not fill the soul with lasting joy. This type of attitude in serving the Lord will lead one to darkness, doubt, worldliness and guilt.
In 2 Chronicles 15 we read that while the Israelites were under the reign of king Asa, the prophet Azariah admonished the people with the following words.
2 Chronicles 15:2,
“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.”
The people responded, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 15:12,
“And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul.”
And notice the end result.
2 Chronicles 15:15,
“And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.”
When we serve the Lord with “whole-heartedness” there will be abiding favor and friendship with the Lord; there will be personal rest; there will be hearts filled with joy. Consider the words of the Psalmists.
Psalms 119:2,
“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
Psalms 119:10,
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
Psalms 119:34,
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
And Mark 12:33 states,
“And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
How are you serving the Lord today – “whole-hearted” or “half-hearted”? If the latter; repent, and come back to serving the Lord with your whole heart. For only then will you find joy and peace in the Lord.
