(Continuation from Part 1.)

In our last devotional, we mentioned that we believers need to have the heart of a full-time servant of God (1 Cor 3:9; Rom 12:11); and to do that, we need to examine our lifestyles to see if they help us cultivate such a heart.

What, then, is the lifestyle of a full-time servant?

1. Meditate on God throughout the day. 💭

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”
(Psalm 1:2)

This verse mentions an aspect of a godly man’s lifestyle: he makes time to meditate on God’s law each day.

Hence, a reflection for ourselves: everyday, have I created pockets of time throughout my day to meditate about God? And can I create more pockets of time to deepen my relationship with God?

Note how the psalmist says “day AND night” – this means the godly man is not satisfied with meditating on God for only a part of his day; rather, he wants such meditations to fill his day!

How does such a lifestyle look like? Here are some ideas to get us started:

• Fixed bible-reading and prayer times at home

• Use our commuting time on public transport to read the bible or church media, instead of social media; or to listen to hymns, instead of secular songs

• Turn on sermons or hymns while we’re doing household chores or exercising

Bottom line: Instead of filling our free time and mind with excessive worldly stimulation, let us use our free time to rest and renew our minds with God’s words. Then, we can understand and fulfil our Master’s instructions better.

2. Plan your calendar around God. 🗓️

When David dedicated his wealth, manpower and ideas for the future construction of God’s temple, he acknowledged an important fact about human life (bold = emphasis):

“But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.”
(1 Chronicles 29:14)

Since our life comes from God, it is our reasonable service to offer our lives back to Him (Rom 12:1). This means dedicating our lives for the work of God, i.e. prospering His kingdom through preaching and pastoring the church in our individual capacities. This requires us to plan our life around God – in other words, first prioritise God’s matters as non-negotiable, and then negotiate everything else (career, family, leisure, etc.) around Him.

In action, this means prioritising church services and fellowships as non-negotiable events in our calendar – for example, weekly evening and Sabbath services, yearly spiritual convocations, and bible camps. We arrange our work and holiday plans around these, so that we can attend these events for our spiritual edification, while being available to help in the church when there is a need.

Bottom line: Since our time is given by God (because life = time), let us not rob God by spending the time that belongs to Him on our self-centred worldly pursuits (Mal 3:8). Rather, let us devote our time to going about our Master’s business.

Upon examining our current lifestyles: as servants of God, do we find ourselves on the right track, or veering off?

Imagine if you were in the same situation as the rich fool in Jesus’ parable, where God suddenly tells you that He is going to take away your life tonight (Lk 12:20): will you feel at peace, or afraid?

Peace, because your last day on earth was well-spent in God’s eyes, and you have also done the necessary ‘homework’ on your heart; or fear, because you wasted the day while forgetting your ‘homework’?

While we are still breathing, let us strive to be full-time servants that please God – with our hearts, and with our whole lives.