There are instances in the Bible where the servants or workers lose their peace, but the ones who rest gain their peace. I believe these are symbols for many things but especially people who are law/demand minded vs. grace/supply minded. As children of God we are no longer servants out of obligation, but sons and daughters!
We don’t and can’t serve God to get a response or to get him to love us. He loves us not because we are lovely but because he is loving. Those under law and demand like the idea of “helping” or “serving” God, as if God needs help or servants… He is God after all. Those under grace receive from God. Now, it’s not bad to “serve” God… just bad to serve out of obligation or to get him to respond or give based on your efforts.
God gives freely… children don’t have to work to gain their fathers acceptance or love (at least not in healthy relationships). There are three stories below where you’ll see those who were serving and became angry or defeated against those who were freely receiving.
“Martha received Jesus into her home and her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard the word. But Martha was distracted with much SERVING, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to SERVE alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” Jesus answered and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38
We see that Martha was busy being demand minded and serving while Mary was simply resting and receiving.
Another instance of this can be seen in the prodigal son story. The older brother became angry after seeing the fathers gracious response to his brother who returned after his irresponsibility. “… He said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been SERVING you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time….” the older brother had a servant mentality instead of a son mentality… the father said “son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours.” The older son served instead of received. – Luke 15:11
When evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the heat of the day.’ – Matthew 20
The ones who worked more were angry at the ones who did MUCH less work but were paid equally.
Being servant/demand minded makes you feel like God owes you for all you’ve done, when in reality our works used as justification are like filthy rags to him… while being son and grace/supply minded brings blessings and peace.
