Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Summary: Paul’s statement in this verse reveals his heart for serving God and leads to a revealing study of God’s Word.
This passage touches on an important point: Paul is careful to separate his carnal self-interest from God’s will.
He is also making a second point: Sacrificial giving is pleasing to God.
Before Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, mankind lived under the Old Testament Law. God gave the Israelites specific behavioral boundaries, effectively saying, “Don’t cross this line!”
The Mosaic laws also provided for atonement. When a person, a clan, a tribe, or the entire nation of Israel sinned, there was a procedure spelled out in the laws for the people to become “at one” with God again.
The problem was that if you were wealthy and could afford to pay the penalty, it was easy to think that God could be “bought off” by a sacrifice. Scripture says:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
The law can dictate how we act, but it cannot touch the heart.
The same is true for us today. The difference is that Jesus’ commands speak more to our hearts than to specific actions.
Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14)
The greatest command, of course, is this:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
The interesting thing about this command is that committing our whole heart to God doesn’t leave any room for putting ourselves first. This is why Paul says, “Not that I desire your gifts…”.
Instead, Paul desires what God desires. Paul’s entire heart, soul, and mind belong to Jesus. That is his “secret” to being content in “any and every situation” (Phil 4:12).
Which brings us to what he does want — “…that more be credited to your account.”
What does he mean?
When Jesus says “… store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20), he is saying the same thing.
Application: Serving the Lord is adding “treasure” to your “account.”
Food for Thought: What is the danger of thinking about our treasure in heaven as being tallied in an “account?”
I think one danger is that we will do our service not so much out of love for our Savior and fellow man, but for the rewards we will get. If that is the case, we would be serving – which is good – but our service could then be for selfish gain of reward in Heaven rather than a gift of love to God and others. I think this is the exact danger that several cults fall into.
Matthew 5: 16 tells us to do good works to glorify God, not to selfishly build up our own interests: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In Hebrews 10: 24 we are to stir one another to love and good works – tying our service to love:: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
It should be noted that many times in the NT, working for eternal rewards as opposed to earthly rewards is admirable and encouraged. But even then, we should always remember Whom we service – the Lord and not ourselves: Colossians 3: 23 – 24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Thank you, Rich!
Your point is excellent! Why we do what we do is important to God. Perhaps more important than what we actually are able to do.
What is the danger of thinking about our treasure in heaven as being tallied in an “account?”
I liked Rich’s answer. Very well put.
I think a danger of thinking about treasure in heaven as being tallied in an “account” is one might be tempted to feel self-righteous. Externally then it would appear nothing had changed, but internally the motivation for service would have changed.
Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Thanks, Chris!
Great point! Self-righteousness is being “right” in our own eyes. When we look at who we are through the lens of Jesus’ sacrifice, there isn’t much to brag about on our account. Jesus paid it all!
Great stuff this morning!
What is the danger of thinking about our treasure in heaven as being tallied in an “account?”
We will exist in a world of our own creation, escape the reality of the life which has been provided to us by our God.
We have been placed on earth, confined within these bodies for a purpose only fully known by God, who has revealed His will in words, and shown us by His actions as He confined Himself to a physical body, lived and ministered to all mankind, and in the end paid the ultimate price for the sins of all as He gave His life, allowing His created beings to brutalize and kill Him.
Jesus focused on the needs of His created beings as He revealed the truth of His great love for all mankind. Today He offers to come, dwell in the hearts of all who will receive Him, and lead us into a world of peace, as we walk with God. In this world, but separate from the powers of this world.
Our time is short and the work to be done is immense. Focusing on Gods will over our own, being alert to the opportunities He is presenting and allowing Him to minister to those around us needs to be our priority. To my knowledge, we each have only one shot at this so we need to focus on now knowing our is with us for a purpose. I’m sure what is around the bend will blow our socks off.
Luke 9:46-48, An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Matthew18:1-5, At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
Ron,
Thank you! I like how you point us to the simplicity of a child as being the “greatest.” Is that another way of saying that he who is like a child in God’s eyes has the most credited to his “account?”