When We Serve Others, We Are Merely Serving God

John W. Welch

To understand Benjamin’s full point here, the key word is only. This word does not just mean only or solely. It also means merely. So, what is King Benjamin trying to tell his people? He wants them to remember that when you serve God, he immediately blesses you, and thus, you do not get out of His debt that way. While it is a good thing to serve God (especially so you can know the voice of the Master whom you have served, 5:14), in reality, when you are in the service of other people, you are still only—merely—in the service of God (2:17). And thus, neither King Benjamin nor anyone else has reason to boast, even if one serves God exclusively, with all of one’s whole soul (2:21). This is because, as Benjamin says, God always immediately blesses you (2:24).

John W. Welch Notes

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