By God's common grace, we have an everyday model here in the world of what a Christian Philosophy of Relationship (CPR) should look like—Chick-fil-A. Employees of CFA are known for their service, kindness, eye contact, and the fact that when they serve you, it is their pleasure to do so. Not every CFA employee follows this standard at the highest level, of course, but many of them do an exceptional job, and when you encounter one who is truly trying, it is a sight to behold.
That's our model. According to CPR, Principle #4, we must give "obedient love and service to the person, but ultimately unto the Lord, by faith, for His glory, with the expectation of reward only from Him." The reason CFA employees can be so kind to their customers (many of whom can be mean and rude) is that they have a boss who pays them to be kind. They are not doing it primarily for the customers but for the boss. So their service is to the customer but also, through them, to the boss, and then the boss pays them (the To-Through Principle).
Scripture teaches us to abide by a similar philosophy. We are to love and serve others in our lives, but our love and service must not end with them. It goes through them to the Lord. To truly do this, we must have faith. We must believe that God is present, watching, and somehow the recipient of our acts of service to others. We must also know that we are engaging in these acts of love and service ultimately for the glory of God, not for our own glory or the glory of those we serve. Finally, we must always remember where our reward comes from. It always comes from the Boss, never from the customer (the person we are serving). We do not serve people to get them to serve us back. We must never seek reciprocation. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins (the ultimate act of love and service), he did not demand we die on a cross for his sins as an act of reciprocation. His reward came from the Father, not from the people he died to save. We have to train ourselves to think and act the same way.
Remember, CPR is primarily a mindset—a way of thinking, a code, a set of guidelines that governs how we approach and relate to others. The ways CPR Principle #4 applies to life are limitless. Every day, you have thousands of opportunities to love and serve another person, ultimately doing it unto the Lord, by faith, for His glory, expecting the reward for your service to come only from Him. Think about it: washing dishes, using your hard-earned money to buy food for your family, listening to a friend vent, smiling at a co-worker, giving money to help the poor, and so on. In these and countless other scenarios, CPR Principle #4 is the way to go. Next time you're in CFA, think about CPR Principle #4.
Here are some passages that show CPR#4 is what God wants us to do.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
Ephesians 6:7-8 Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord.
Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Romans 14:18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints...
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another... in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Romans 12:10-11 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Matthew 6:1-4 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do... that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
1 Corinthians 3:13-14 Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire... If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you... Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day...
Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
Proverbs 11:18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.