Serving Others
Serving others is a natural, normal part of being a follower of Jesus.
We serve differently depending on the stage of growth we are in. A child may serve because a friend is serving. A young adult may serve because it feels good to them. On the other hand a child may not serve if it is inconvenient. A young adult may choose to give up if the obstacles faced, seem overwhelming.
We are part of a family and every family member needs to learn to share in the responsibility of being in a family. How we share will vary. Sometimes we serve in an area of spiritual giftedness. Other times we serve because a task needs to be done and you have the ability to complete it.
Spiritual gifts are abilities the Holy Spirit gives to individuals as He sees fit, so they can build up the family of believers. Paul talked about this when he wrote, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12.7-11)
In addition to spiritual gifts you have skills that you have cultivated over the years. Skills that can be used to serve others. Skills such as, but not limited to: fixing cars, using a computer, playing a musical instrument, writing letters, working with plants, organizing, gardening, child raising, driving, comforting children, etc.
You also have experiences from your life that can be used to serve others. You may have experienced death with a close relative, which would allow you to serve another who is now experiencing a similar event. You may have had an experience with overcoming an addiction that another could benefit from. Or, perhaps you have some wisdom from purchasing a home or selecting a school. Believe it or not, but your list of experiences is probably longer than your arm, and all of these experiences can be used to serve others.
Our hope is that you will see yourself as someone who has something to offer in service of others. And you do!
Some examples of serving can include those that are needed for weekend gatherings. i.e. musical, tech, children, hospitality, grounds, greeting, cleaning, etc. But there are other ways to serve the body of Christ in addition to weekend services. A few examples would be: sharing what you know about Jesus with others, providing meals to parents of newborns, sending a text, making a call or sending a card to let people know they are loved, helping move someone to a new location, providing firewood for home heating needs, opening your home so believers can have a place to gather together. And the list goes on.
How we serve makes a difference, too. Our service is intended to flow out of a love for others. If we find ourselves serving out of obligation, or in some way to make God proud of us, we misunderstand what it means to serve the body of Christ. Why we do what we do, matters.
Paul addressed this, too, when he wrote, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13.1-3)
Jesus himself, said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13.14-17)
Peter addressed this when he wrote, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4.10)
Paul, again, got at this idea in his letter to the Galatians and Ephesians when he wrote, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5.13) “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” (Ephesians 6.7)
Pray about how you may start serving, ask someone in leadership to guide you, then commit to serving others on a consistent basis.