"What is the Minimum Required of Me?"
Steven J. Wallace
Have you ever wondered or heard it asked, “What is the minimum required of me by the Lord?” We could also ask, “Why would a Christian ask a question about minimal duty?” However, the Bible gives direct answers to this. Observe the answers from three Bible preachers:
Micah
When some wanted to paint the Lord as an overbearing God with unreachable expectations, Micah responded in 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” 1
God expects His people to “do” what is just (cf. Jn. 7:24). He expects His people to “love” what is merciful (cf. Matt. 18:21ff). He expects His people to not only “walk” but to walk humbly or lowly with Him. Walking humbly runs away from having a proud self-inflated ego that often props up self at the expense of scorning another.
Luke 17:10, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’"
We must know what is just and merciful while we mind our place before God. James wrote in 4:6,
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” James instructed them to submit to God and resist the devil (Jas. 4:7). Then he commands them to draw near to God, cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts so that they would not be double-minded (Jas. 4:8).
At the crux of our question above is likely that of a double mind. One wants to serve two masters, self and God, and have one foot in the world and another in the church. Jesus taught that this is an impossible position to be in (Matt. 6:24). Does our question in this article reflect the traits of doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly before God? Perhaps the key to Micah’s teaching in 6:8 is “He has shown you.” More than at any other time in history we can say that God has shown us what is required. God has shown us and given us an example in His Son (1 Jn. 2:6; Jn. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:21). Did Jesus live by what is minimal?
Paul
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22). Paul answers the question by inserting the duty of a slave. What slave would ask his master, “What is the minimum required of me?” In Romans, Paul taught that as good of a slave as we were to sin, we should be to God for righteousness:
“I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Rom. 6:19, emp. mine, SJW).
As you were to one master, so now present your members to your new master. How much more should we love to serve God, a compassionate and loving master over our former tyrannical master of sin?
“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17, 18).
Since we have become slaves of righteousness, we should be impressed with how much, not how little we can do.
Jesus
Jesus was asked by a scribe about the first or principal commandment in Mark 12:28. The Lord answered,
“The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’” (see Mk. 12:29, 30).
The first commandment that a disciple should know is to be wholeheartedly committed to the Lord. Jesus was quoting from Moses’ writings in Deuteronomy 6:4, 5. Moses also wrote,
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 10:12).
What is the minimal service that the Lord requires? The heart or seat of my affection should be wholly given to Him. My soul or life should be tied up in Him. My meditation should always be on Him. My strength should be devoted to Him. If I love the Lord with all my heart and soul (Deut. 6:5), I will serve the Lord with all my heart and soul (Deut. 10:12).
The questions of how much should I give and how often should I attend the services of the Lord become easy to determine when we humble ourselves before God and enslave our faculties to His will.
Jesus identified the second commandment in Mark 12:31, as: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” A second reason exists for my faithful attendance at every service. Not only should I attend and participate because of my loving devotion to God, but also because of my consideration of others.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24, 25, emp. mine).
Jesus didn’t come to earth to partially give Himself, but He wholly gave Himself to do His Father’s will and to save us from sin. What then should my duty be to Him?
