---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can not serve God, we can not work for…"
description: "\"“We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we have love.”\" — D.L. Moody"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg"
---

#  We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we…

![“We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we have love.” quote by D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg)

> ““We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we have love.””

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Serving God requires love; without love, work for God lacks authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Love is essential to serve God.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate love before serving.

Themes

faith service love

Mood

reflective spiritual

Type

inspirational ethical

When to use this quote

- church ministry
- personal devotion
- volunteering

Key Concepts

theology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you nurture love for God daily?
- What obstacles block love in service?

A Different Perspective

Love can be hard to feel consistently.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Work For God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-for-god/)

## Related quotes

> [It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-easier-to-serve-god-without-a-vision-easier-to-work-for-god/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [It's easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-s-easier-to-serve-god-without-a-vision-easier-to-work-for-god/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“I used to pray, “I’m gonna live for God!” Now I pray, “God, come live through me.” I used to pray, “I’m gonna work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-cordeiro/i-used-to-pray-i-m-gonna-live-for-god-now-i-pray-god-come-live/)

[Wayne Cordeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-cordeiro/)

> [It is impossible to get exhausted in work for God. We get exhausted because we try to do God's work in our own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-impossible-to-get-exhausted-in-work-for-god-we-get-exhausted/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [It is always helpful to us to fix our attention on the God-ward aspect of Christian work; to realise that the work of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-always-helpful-to-us-to-fix-our-attention-on-the-god-ward/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Jn 6:281 do Fallen man’s concept concerning God is that he must do something for God and work for God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/living-stream-ministry/jn-6-281-do-fallen-man-s-concept-concerning-god-is-that-he-must-do/)

[Living Stream Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/living-stream-ministry/)

> [Our work for God is to flow from loving God; thus, we work with Him instead of for Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/our-work-for-god-is-to-flow-from-loving-god-thus-we-work-with-him/)

[Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/)

> [Ultimately you are doing what you do for one of two reasons: to serve oneself or to serve God. There is enough time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-wilhelm-engstrom/ultimately-you-are-doing-what-you-do-for-one-of-two-reasons-to-serve/)

[Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-wilhelm-engstrom/)

> [I simply don't become attached to the outer world or to anything. I work for God. I do the very best I can, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/i-simply-don-t-become-attached-to-the-outer-world-or-to-anything-i/)

[Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/)

> [“Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/beware-of-any-work-for-god-that-causes-or-allows-you-to-avoid/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [It is much easier to do something than to trust in God. That is why there are so few fellow workers with God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-much-easier-to-do-something-than-to-trust-in-god-that-is-why/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The only basis on which to work for God is an esteemed appreciation of his deliverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-only-basis-on-which-to-work-for-god-is-an-esteemed-appreciation/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Spend plenty of time with God; let other things go, but don't neglect Him. We are not here to do work for God, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/spend-plenty-of-time-with-god-let-other-things-go-but-don-t-neglect/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [When you want to work for God start a committee. When you want to work with God start a prayer group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-you-want-to-work-for-god-start-a-committee-when-you-want-to-work/)

[Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/)

> [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## More by D.L. Moody

> [“I would not give much for a man’s Christianity if he is saved himself and is not willing to try and save others. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/i-would-not-give-much-for-a-man-s-christianity-if-he-is-saved-himself/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“Earth’s nobility are soon forgotten. John Bunyan, the Bedford tinker, has outlived the whole crowd of those who were the nobility in his day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/earth-s-nobility-are-soon-forgotten-john-bunyan-the-bedford-tinker/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“good way is to study Bible characters—take them right from the cradle to the grave. You find that skeptics often take one particular part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/good-way-is-to-study-bible-characters-take-them-right-from-the-cradle/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“The greatest, strongest, mightiest plea for the Church of God in the world is the existence of the Spirit of God in its midst,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/the-greatest-strongest-mightiest-plea-for-the-church-of-god-in-the/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/if-i-take-care-of-my-character-my-reputation-will-take-care-of-itself/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“In 1857 a revival swept over this country in the east and on to the western cities, clear over to the Pacific coast. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/in-1857-a-revival-swept-over-this-country-in-the-east-and-on-to-the/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“Take the sin of covetousness. There is more said in the Bible against it than against drunkenness. I must get it out of me—destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/take-the-sin-of-covetousness-there-is-more-said-in-the-bible-against/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“I have made this discovery: that it takes more love and self-sacrifice for the father to give up the son than it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/i-have-made-this-discovery-that-it-takes-more-love-and-self-sacrifice/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/for-whatsoever-is-born-of-god-overcomes-the-world-and-this-is-the/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“A man told me a while ago he could not believe a thing he had never seen. I said, “Man, did you ever see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/a-man-told-me-a-while-ago-he-could-not-believe-a-thing-he-had-never/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“In a few days she came back to me and said, “Mr. Moody, I understand all about that theater business now. I went the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/in-a-few-days-she-came-back-to-me-and-said-mr-moody-i-understand-all/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“Now, how are we to get the victory over all our enemies? Turn to Galatians, second chapter, verse twenty: “I am crucified with Christ;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/now-how-are-we-to-get-the-victory-over-all-our-enemies-turn-to/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“Mortify your pride by cultivating humility. “Put on, therefore,” says Paul, “as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . . humbleness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/mortify-your-pride-by-cultivating-humility-put-on-therefore-says-paul/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“The most glorious triumphs of the Church have been won in times of persecution. The early church was persecuted for about three hundred years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/the-most-glorious-triumphs-of-the-church-have-been-won-in-times-of/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [“And the little fellow smiled and said: “Well, father, I shall be with Jesus tonight, shan’t I?” “Yes, you will spend the night with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/and-the-little-fellow-smiled-and-said-well-father-i-shall-be-with/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

[Explore all 116 D.L. Moody quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we have love.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "D.L. Moody"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for-god-unless-we-have-love/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for-god-unless-we-have-love/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/d-l-moody-4112_love_we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for_1560694.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We can not serve God, we can not work for God unless we have love.” — D.L. Moody",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "D.L. Moody",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We can not serve God, we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for-god-unless-we-have-love/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/we-can-not-serve-god-we-can-not-work-for-god-unless-we-have-love/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
