Have you heard this statement? “So heavenly minded that he (she) is no earthly good.”?

Can we become so concerned about our religious routines, ceremonies, getting to heaven, and acts of worship that we are of little use to those around us….including, sadly, our own families?

Is our religion filled with the Christian dialect that only other religious people understand? Do we earnestly protect and hold fast to denominational arguments in order to feel comfortable and superior in our “religion? Are we more concerned about being right than the needs of others? In other words, are we more religious than real?

Jesus had a lot to say about this. To the clean-looking religious people of His day He said,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27

These were very religious people who turned God’s royal law of liberty (James 1:25) into burdens to the people Their religion became a list of do’s and don’ts. It was all about the list and not the Lord. Appearances meant every thing to them. Is that still the case today?

But the ones who loved Jesus, loved people and became servants. Why? Because Jesus set the example in His life. He said,

“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” Matthew 28:20

His followers did things to relieve suffering and shared the path or good news that brings freedom and relief to hurting souls through Jesus. This didn’t get rid of God’s simple 10 commandments, but gave them power to resist the strength of sin and focus on servitude for the Lord. Their focus was on the Lord and following Him to relieve all sorts of suffering rather than being religious. Their story was not about weekly routines of “going to church,” but teaching, preaching and serving people.

The real followers of Jesus are easily identified as is the fruit on a tree. They are doers. They put others before themselves even their religion

Jesus asked, ““But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

The real followers of Jesus don’t seek to save their lives, they seek to lose it. They don’t count the costs. They put their hand to the plow and don’t look back! They move forward in faith without worry about the obstacles. If they move forward, they know the Lord will provide the resources.

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 62

He who looks back is not concentrating on the task at hand.. He is, at best, a halfhearted worker.

Jesus’s brother James gives us the definition of pure religion. It has nothing to do with perfect theology, going to church, the church building, or even your morning/evening devotions. It has to do with servitude and not following the selfish ways of the world.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

When Jesus returns, He will not look at your church attendance nor the money you gave to keep up a building and pay the bills, Here is what He will say,

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Matthew 25: 34-36

If we fail to be servants, He will say,

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Matthew 25: 41-43

Is your religion real? If servitude for Jesus is difficult for you to do, but religion is easy…maybe you have not been reborn. Jesus is knocking at your door. Open it and invite Him in…then become a servant.