Mosiah 2

As King Benjamin taught his people, two of his points seemed to touch my heart this morning. First, as he laid out evidence of his life long service, sacrifice, and commitment to his people, he tells them -

"...that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.
17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:16 - 17)

Therefore -

"...if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?" (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:18)

And then what touched me was this comment on expressing appreciation -

"...if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!" (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:19)

I believe what King Benjamin is suggesting that we should recognize that when anyone blesses our lives, they are serving God, therefore, not only should we express gratitude to the individual but also to our Father in Heaven in that he has worked through the individual. President Spencer W. Kimball taught -

"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom." (June Conference, 1974)

The second thought is that sometimes we have a tendency to suggest that we have been faithful and we "deserve" a specific blessing. King Benjamin taught his people -

"...my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—
21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:20 - 21)

Why?

"...in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever..." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:23 - 24)

We have to be very careful when we start believing the Lord "owes us".