Romans Chapter 12 Vs. 11

 

Marks of the True Christian

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rom 12:11

slothful in business... Never be lazy, slothful, and careless.

fervent in spirit... Maintain zeal to the boiling point.

serving the Lord... Put your life into service for God whether or not you receive personal gain and applause.

Whatever a Christian does in this life is worth doing with enthusiasm and care. Sloth and indifference not only prevent good, but allow evil to prosper.

To be fervent in spirit means “to boil in spirit” or “boiling over.” This phrase suggests having plenty of heat to product adequate, productive energy, but not so much heat that one goes out of control.

Paul then provided a series of exhortations concerning a believer’s personal attitudes, attitudes that will make him more attractive to others. In Rom. 12:11 the key thought is the last clause — serving (douleuontes; diakonian in Rom. 12:7 is trans. “serving”) the Lord — and the first two clauses explain how a believer is to serve as the Lord’s “slave” (doulos; cf. Rom. 1:1): never… lacking (“not shrinking, not hesitating, not being lazy”) in zeal (en spoudē, “diligence,” rendered “diligently” in Rom. 12:8), and being fervent in spirit. Keep your spiritual fervor is literally, “being fervent, or boiling (zeontes, used only here and in Acts 18:25 of Apollos) in the spirit” (either the Holy Spirit or one’s inner life). These two commands also balance each other as negative and positive commands (cf. Rom. 12:9). As believers serve God as His slaves they should be enthusiastic and diligent.