A mother told her children to clean their rooms; they did, but very slowly and reluctantly. Then the mother said to them, “If you get your rooms cleaned quickly, I will take you to the zoo.” Now the children started to work very hard, and in no time their rooms were clean.
In a factory, men were working slowly, producing little. Then the owner said to them, “I will pay you no more per hour, but by piece,” and from that day on the production almost doubled. It was the incentive that made the difference. Without incentives, people do not work well, neither do they do a good job.
In religion also, many work very slow. Years go by and very little progress is made in their character building. Perfection is still lacking, and they are not fit for heaven. They also need incentives to work faster and to produce a better quality of character. Our time is almost finished, and if our sanctification is not complete, all will be lost. Our zeal must not be half-hearted, and our fervor not lukewarm.
Without proper incentive, the attitude of the people is as Malachi writes, “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” Malachi 3:14–15
Also, in Psalms we read the same. “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:12–14
Many people agree with these two Bible texts. They see no reason to serve God.
Job writes about the wicked who say, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?” Job 21:15
People expect to get money, riches, and an easy life, through religion; and if it does not happen, they give up on religion.
Other people reason in their minds that “this is sin, but I enjoy it so much, it makes me happy. God will understand, and He will forgive. All I have to do is to say ‘forgive me’, and all is well again.”
The Seventh-Day Adventists faced the war and possible persecution in 1914. Many reasoned in their minds that it is easier to get forgiveness from God than from the governments. God is good, but our governments are bad; then let us obey our governments, and join the army and fight also on the Sabbath.
One Pentecostal minister said to me, “I know that I break the commandment of God, I know that Saturday-Sabbath is the right day of rest, but I pray to God that He will forgive my Sunday-keeping.”
We all know that we should do missionary work, but often we reason that we are so busy with other things that we have no time for it now. Later we will get involved in the work of soul-saving. Meanwhile, God will understand, and He will forgive.
In all these cases, the incentives were lacking. They did not think of heaven, nor of eternal life, which they will lose.
I saw heaven in my dreams, and it made me homesick; it gave me an incentive to obey God to the utmost, and make any sacrifice to be sure of my salvation. Sister White saw heaven, and she writes, “Heaven is cheap enough,” and no sacrifice is too much for it. Every effort that we must make for it is paid back a thousand times to us. “But as it is written: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
A great incentive for us to serve and to obey God should be freedom from sin—freedom from all addictions to sin in our spirit, soul, and body—to be free from the love of the world, appetites, passions, selfishness, pride, and covetousness. A person who is free from all these sins is truly happy and enjoys life to the fullest. He sees beauty in Christ, and wants to follow His example in all things. He sees beauty in a little flower, he enjoys the sunrise, and all of nature. He is progressing towards sanctification. His heart is filled with love to God.
Love towards God is the strongest incentive to make us want to obey and to serve God. When we understand how much God loves us, then love to Him is generated in our hearts towards Him. It is this love that makes us want to obey Him, and to sacrifice for Him.
Daily we need to remember the scenes of Calvary. This is the best medicine for spiritual sickness.
“A heart of faith and love is dearer to God than the most costly gift.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 615
“The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Saviour’s life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings,—all are enlisted in behalf of man’s redemption.
“Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labour and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father’s house. Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages—are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart’s loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?” –Steps to Christ, p. 21
When we have such a love relationship with God, then Satan cannot separate us from Him. Then our greatest enjoyment is to serve Him. Sabbath will be a very special day to us. Bible reading will be our most enjoyable pastime.
Are there not enough incentives to serve and obey God, and to love Him? He has given His Son to die for us; also we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and the angels to protect us.
“But to you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Malachi 4:2
When we give our heart and our love to Him, already in this earthly life, we will be full of joy. The peace of heaven will fill us. Our happiness will be greater than what the world could ever give.
Timo Martin