Who will you serve?

There’s an old song by Bob Dylan that goes,

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

It was true in 1979 when Dylan wrote that song.  It was true back in Joshua’s day.  And it’s true today.

Joshua reminded the people of all God had done for them.  But he warned them that if they turned their backs on God, God would punish them for it.

He then reminded them of how Terah, Abraham’s father had worshiped other gods, and how the Israelites themselves had followed other gods in Egypt.  Then he said,

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 23:14-15)

We face the same decision today.  Who will we serve?

Will you serve God?  Or will you serve yourself?

Will you serve the idol of money?  Will you serve the idol of sex?  Will you serve the idol of power?

Who will you serve?

Joshua said he didn’t care what others did, he and his family would serve the Lord.

And for many reading this blog, they would say the same.  But what does that mean exactly, to serve God?

First, it means to put away all other idols in your life.  In other words, stop making them the most important thing in your life.  Instead, put them under the rulership of God.

Joshua said,

Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel. (Joshua 24:23)

This is not to say that we are to give away all our money, be celibate, and never take any positions of leadership, of course.

But it does mean that all these things must be done with hearts yielded to God.  A heart that says, “I make you God over all my life, including money, sex, power.”

And of course, if you have been worshiping other gods such as Buddha, Allah, or whoever, you need to leave that completely behind you.  You can’t worship two deities (although there is only one true Deity).

As Joshua said,

He is a jealous God. (24:19)

To serve God also means to love and obey him.  Joshua said,

Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left…be very careful to love the LORD your God. (23:6,11)

Jesus himself said that if we loved him, we would obey him.  (John 14:21)

But finally, remember that we can’t do all this in our own strength.  Joshua told the people,

You are not able to serve the LORD.  (24:19)

I think he was actually just challenging the people and their commitment to follow God.  He was saying, “Are you really serious?  Do you really mean it?”

But his words were literally true.  It is impossible for us to serve God with all our hearts unless the Holy Spirit is working in us, and changing us from the inside out.

And so our prayer should be, “Lord, renew me day by day.  Forgive my sins.  And help me to become more like you so that I may serve you better.”

That’s what it means to serve the Lord.  Who will you serve?