Twice the apostle enjoins

upon the believing slave the need for single hearted

Singleness of heart may be understood from the expressions that accompany it.

Not with eye service.--We have found this in ourselves and in others too much to

make explanation necessary. Eye-service differs from heart service, as the "form" of

godliness differs from the "power".

Not unto men.--We serve men. We have masters according to the flesh. We are

enjoined to render them willing service. And yet our service is "not unto men". How so?

The answer is given in the blessed words, "Ye serve the Lord Christ". Whatever our

position may be, whatever our service may involve, we, as those who have been bought

with a price, serve the Lord. What we do, we do "as to the Lord". If we belong to Him,

if we with truth have said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" cannot we trust Him to

place us in that sphere where we can best serve Him? Why not serve Him where we are,

instead of always thinking of how well we could serve Him somewhere else? Have we

not often taken up our daily duties with heavy heart, begrudging the time that must be

thus occupied? Yet, to slaves, to men and women whose condition was far removed from

our own, the apostle could write, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily", "With good will

doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men".

How can we reach this condition when service of this character can be rendered

"heartily", when we can do our service "with good will"? It is all answered in the phrase,

"with singleness of heart". When our motives are single, when our plans are not laid with

one eye on the Lord's will, and another upon our own advancement, when our prayers are

for His glory, and not for the satisfaction of the flesh (Jas. 4: 3), then we shall begin to

enter into true service.

Singleness of heart is accompanied by singleness of eye. This is further explained in

the words:--