Do Not Try To Tip The Savior
Do Not Try To Tip The Savior
By Dennis Huebshman
After enjoying a good meal in a fine restaurant, and maybe the server might have been extra attentive, we feel it proper to add gratuity, or a “tip”, to show our appreciation. There are even some people who believe they can do the same for Jesus as if He’s a “waiter” rather than our Redeemer. (any emphasis mine)
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it’ thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (NKJV – Matthew 22:37-40)
If we follow the first greatest commandment, we will show our love for the Father by receiving His Son Jesus as our Savior, and by accepting the gift He gave us at Calvary; that by doing so, all who will call out to Him will be saved. No one will be turned away who truly asks forgiveness for their sins, and have faith that Jesus’ sacrifice covered them completely.
To follow Jesus and share the gift He provided is what the “Great Commission” is all about. To try to “add-to” what Jesus did is to say His death, burial and resurrection to conquer sin and death was not enough. That would not be giving “gratuity”, but actually giving Him an insult.
This would be saying we can do deeds or good acts to earn His blessings, or to pay for His services. Remember Isaiah 64:6, which tells us our “good deeds are like filthy rags”. We show our appreciation by living continuously for Jesus, and thanking Him for saving us. As time goes by, we will develop a relationship with Him which will grow and grow. We will never reach perfection on this earth. In 2 Peter 3:9, we read, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”. (ESV)
Serving the Lord would be to realize that without Him, we have no hope. Loving the Lord is, turning away from habitual sin, reading His true word to us (Bible), and talking (praying) to Him regularly We show Him our true love and respect and therefore glorify all that Jesus willingly did for us. He provided that which we could never do, to give us something we could never obtain on our own.
Romans 3:10-12; “As it is written; none is righteous, no not one. (11) No one understands; no one seeks for God. (12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Anyone who says they aren’t a sinner, and are “good enough” to claim their Salvation needs to re-read Romans 3:23-24; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; (24) and are justified by His Grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.”
Romans 10:8-13; “But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart (that is the word of faith that we proclaim), (9) because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (11) For the scripture says, Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (everyone else); for the Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. (13) For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Where does it say here that you will only be saved if you do so many deeds? Or, you will only be saved if you get on your “prayer rug” so many times a day in order that you might just earn His acceptance of you? Several years ago, I asked a recent convert to Islam if he ever could be certain he was going to paradise. His answer was that no one ever knows that; one just hopes they did enough deeds, or gave enough prayers to earn it.
On the word of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, if anyone calls on Him, asking His forgiveness, and for Him to be our Savior, they will be saved. That’s in Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 as already shown. No added charge to their “bill” is required. Any actions we may do are to honor Jesus as our eternal Shepherd (John 10), and we are a part of His flock. We all want to serve Him using the talents He has blessed us with, and with no accolades for ourselves.
Romans 12:4-8; “For as in one body, we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function; (5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (6) Having gifts that differ (talents, abilities) according to the Grace given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his/her teaching; (8) the one who exhorts, in his/her exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness”
And then, Romans 12:9, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
The absolute two verses to remember are Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”
And then my life verse, John 14:6; “Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me”
The only “thing” we can give to show our appreciation for the “Service” provided by our Savior is our eternal soul. God loves us so much that this is why He sent His Son in the first place. (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8) The hardest part about all of this is allowing ourselves to go against the normal human nature, and to believe this is a true gift. Satan will do all he can to discourage all who want to have Jesus in their hearts. Your social status, whether rich or poor, race, creed or color are included. God does not love one over another – we are all equal in His sight.
He does realize those who truly accept the gift will be in the minority. (Matthew 7:13-14) This does not change His true and just ways one bit. Those who receive and accept Jesus will have eternal life. Likewise, according to Revelation 20:11-15, all who do not will be at the Great White Throne to learn of their eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.
Best part for all current believers, there is a 7-year period of time rapidly approaching that will put this world in a terrible tribulation unlike anything that has ever happened before. Believers will not go into this period. We will be called up to meet Jesus in the air, to be kept from the Wrath. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; and 1 Thessalonians 5:9)
Don’t gamble that you still have plenty of time. This is one of satan’s greatest lies. To call on Jesus to secure your destiny with Him right now, would not be too early.
He already paid for your fare; it’s up to you to accept the “ticket” He bought for you with His own life blood.
Maranatha!