"My meat is to do the will of him that sent
me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34)
The most unhappy people in the world are the ones who live only for themselves. All that
they do, they do only for their own sake. For these self- centered individuals, the most
precious things in the world is their "self." Like a cancer that eats and
destroys its own cells, the self-centered individual is slowly dying inwardly.
Sometimes these self-centered individuals mask their concern for their own physical and
mental welfare by insisting that it is for "their family." They are blinded by
the pleasures and comforts of this world, and seek only to gratify themselves as they
hoard luxuries within their households. Blinded to the truth of eternity, they cannot see
either their own true needs or the needs of the multitudes around them.
Sometimes, out of guilt, they will "do something good." But when they do, it is
with one eye toward the glory that will come to their name, and the praise, influence and
power that will hopefully follow. And if these glories do not follow, the self-centered
"do-gooder" then becomes insolent, upset and unhappy. Bitterness replaces joy,
because while the deeds were good, the inner motive was corrupt.
But what a change when we come to the place in our life when we put Jesus in the
center--when we can honestly say, "Lord, for thy sake I am glad to do all that
pleases you." Our priority must not be our own joy and happiness, but God's will, His
name, His cause. Doing anything we do for His sake makes all the difference in the world.
Then, without seeking it, the joy and happiness follow.
It is well to ask ourselves, "Why am I doing what I do. And why am I not doing some
things I know need to be done? Why is there no joy in my heart and I feel empty, even
doing good?" The answer could very well be this: our good works are no longer being
done for His sake, but for our own pleasure. It is possible, as Watchman Nee once
suggested, to be serving the house of God and to have forgotten the Lord who is Master of
the house. "For me to live is Christ," wrote the Apostle Paul. He said he did
all things; "For Thy Sake." May we this day--and always--live to do all things
for His
Reference Used: One Month for Asia by K.P. Yohannan ( used with permission )
From: A Revival Source Center