hy is it that believers cannot do God's will? Why do they think that serving in God's work is so very difficult, burdensome, painful, and hard? Why can they not rely on or have faith in God? Among the many reasons, let's examine three. The reason people feel they cannot rely on God, have no desire to do His will, and yet still regard those who serve as pitiable ones is this: because they do not love God, nor fear Him, nor show reverence or honor.

Because They Do Not Love

God said, "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5). And the Lord Jesus likewise said, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37–38), stating that this is the greatest and first commandment. Yet, did the people of Israel truly love God? No, they did not love Him at all.

For someone you do not love, listening to their words or doing what they ask is an extremely difficult thing. But for someone you deeply love, no matter how hard or wearying the task, you will gladly wish to do it. To meet the one you love, there is no "too cold," no "too hot," no "too far" — nothing you won't bear. You'll gladly spend money and endure hardship. Whatever the cost, it always feels worthwhile.

Why did the people of Israel abandon God and worship other gods instead? The answer is clear: because they did not love God at all. If they had loved Him, worshipping Him and listening to His words would have been extremely easy.

Today, why do Christians fail to listen to God's word, rely on Him, know Him, or carry out what He asks? Because they do not love God. They love the world instead. The Scripture says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world." (1 John 2:15–16). Without loving God, doing His will is an extremely difficult thing; so they feel pity for those who serve. They think it's so wearying. And those who serve — because they serve without loving God, seeking their own gain — are few and far between the truly diligent ones. Those who serve do so only thinking of their own profit, deliberating only about what they'll get out of it. So when something is even slightly difficult for God's work, they think it's too exhausting; I've already given enough; I've suffered long enough. Does that sound like how you serve?

Because They Show No Reverence

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name." (Malachi 1:6).

The people of Israel abandoning God and worshiping other gods was because they showed no reverence or fear for Him. For someone we revere, serving them comes easily — indeed, we gladly do it. Moreover, to avoid displeasing them, we pay great attention to every command; we ensure nothing is done incorrectly. Then why did the Israelites show no reverence or fear for Him. It is not that God is not worthy of honor — far from it. He is altogether worthy of reverence. 

So then why did the people of Israel show no reverence? Just as children do not honor their parents. Other people may respect and honor the parents of these children, yet their own children often fail to honor or respect their parents. They don't value their parental worth.

So, do you and I truly revere and honor God? Even if our mouths say we do, yet we do not do His will or live as He desires—regardless of whether He is pleased—then we have no reverence or honor for Him. Doing God's will and obeying His words without revering Him is an extremely difficult thing.

Because They Do Not Fear

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning. (Exodus 20:18–20).

When the Lord gave the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, He did so not plainly but with thunder, lightning, the sound of a trumpet, and a smoking mountain — as described above. He did this because Moses said it was 'so that they might fear Him.' Because of this display of power, the people said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.' Those people genuinely feared death; they even expressed it openly.

Yet did their fear last long? Even while dwelling at the foot of Mount Sinai, while Moses was climbing the mountain for forty days, they made a golden calf and worshiped it. Throughout their history, generation after generation, because they did not fear God, they worshiped idols that displeased Him. Consequently, they fell into God's punishment: they were slain, handed over to enemies, and plunged into anguish and despair. Yet even today, because they do not fear God, they show no reverence or care.

Today, do Christians truly fear God? No, they have no fear at all. They treat God as though He were invisible wind. No one fears something unseen, like the wind. But when a fierce storm comes, don't they fear it greatly? Right now, across this world, people experience sudden disasters and natural calamities from time to time. Yet instead of these events driving them to seek refuge in God, they trample on Him and look away. Soon it won't be scattered incidents — the whole world will face the fire of God's wrath. Even though these things are written in Scripture, because they don't even read the Bible, they neither fear nor care. Before that time comes, let us fear God and submit ourselves to seek His refuge.

Summary: Believers struggle to do God’s will due to lack of love, reverence, and fear for Him. Scripture commands loving God fully, yet many love the world instead. Without genuine love, serving someone feels burdensome rather than joyful. The people of Israel exemplify this; despite witnessing power at Sinai, they quickly worshiped idols. Their history shows that without reverence and fear, obedience fails. Today, many treat God casually, ignoring His warnings until disasters strike. Even during calamities, most do not seek refuge in Him. The Bible records these truths, yet many refuse to read it. True service flows from love, reverence, and fear of God. Without these, doing His will is an exhausting duty driven by self-interest. Before the world faces wrath, believers must examine their hearts. Do we truly love, revere, and fear Him? Let us turn to God now, cultivating genuine reverence so that serving Him becomes a joyful response to grace, not a burdensome obligation.

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