“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 NIV
“When Jesus had finished washing their feet, He put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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.” John 13:12-15 NIV
In the world, a powerful leader would never stoop to perform such a humble task as washing the feet of their subordinates. But Jesus, being master and Lord, chose to serve His disciples in this way.
Jesus taught us that the standard for greatness in the Kingdom of God is different from the world. In the world, if you have talent, if you can make speeches, if you can sing or play, if you have a special ability, you will be a leader; however, in the Kingdom of God, it is not so.
Jesus said that whoever wants to be the greatest, whoever wants to grow, must serve and love what God loves: People!
We are all born with a selfish nature, which needs to go to the cross every day. We like to be served, to receive, to be first, to be in front! This is human and natural, but in the kingdom of God, those who will become great are those who are servants!
Serving is the result of the nature of Jesus in our lives. We serve because we have the nature of Jesus within us, and He is Love; so whenever we serve others, there is only one way of doing it: through Love.
“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2-3 NLT
The fuel for serving is LOVE!
Even if you have faith but you are not motivated by love, your faith is worthless. Even if you serve but your actions are not done out of love, they will not benefit you! This is serious.
My motivation to serve must be LOVE.
When I serve out of love, I will see people as individuals, I will see people from God’s point of view.
If we help and serve just to see a person being transformed, to give someone hope and freedom, I will pay whatever the cost may be, because my motivation is Love.
When I serve out of love, I want nothing in return, I do not need a pat on the back, flattery, or recognition. Why? Because I possess the nature of Jesus.
Those who serve have the nature of Jesus!
If we want a reward, it means we are doing it just to get something in return; if I demand something, it is not generosity, it is a salary, which is why I say: Volunteering is not free labour, it is a service that no money in the world can pay for!
The church could hire people, but serving is a great opportunity God gives us to grow and become great!
Why do we serve? Because we have the nature of Jesus.
“rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:7-8 NIV
Jesus, being God, emptied Himself and humbled Himself! A Christian who has the nature of Jesus gives up personal interests to serve, they want those around them to succeed. Are you investing in the success of others?
Christians concerned with promoting their own name, their personal goals, their gifts, and their personal growth are out of line with Jesus’ standard.
We need to serve, seeking the success and needs of others above our own.
For Jesus, serving was not an obligation but a lifestyle. Why? Love made service light and joyful for Jesus. For those who love, serving is natural, and those who serve have found the true meaning of life.
How many here love Jesus? One day Jesus confronted Peter about his love.
“Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.'” John 21:16-17 (NIV)
Three times Jesus asked Peter, do you love me?
Jesus’ response was: If you love me, prove it by feeding my sheep. Serving people is demonstrating love to our Lord!
When you serve people, you are saying, I love you, Jesus.
A Christian who does not live to serve does not understand why they live! Those who do not live to serve do not serve to live!
Loving God is serving people and relating to people. You need to make friends with people, visit people, and relate to people!
God wants to form the life of Christ in us, and this is through service. We need to start serving from the bottom, in small services, and when we are faithful in small things, God will place us in greater things.
Many want positions, they want to go to high places, but for Christ to be formed in us, we need to humble ourselves like Jesus, because He humbled Himself, and it was God who exalted Him!
For Jesus, serving was being God’s answer to people’s needs.
In John 13:12-17, Jesus took a basin of water, a towel, and did the work of a slave, and then said, “I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, now you go and do the same, follow your master’s example.”
The true place of a Christian is not at the head of the table but around it, serving people.
The true Christian is looking to “rend service” and not “to be seen”!
We need to bring back the basin of water and the towel!
How do we serve? We serve with the fuel of love. Serving is everywhere! It starts in the morning, at home, with children tidying their rooms, mothers doing housework with pleasure, husbands and fathers doing the dishes, cleaning the house.
When we have the nature of Jesus, we serve everywhere we pass through, we greet our neighbours, you can even serve people by being a kind driver who will help other drivers, you can serve on a bus, at your school, at university, at your workplace, and we serve in the church, which is the kingdom of God.
We serve because we have the nature of Jesus and we have the fuel of love.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Galatians 6:9-10 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good! Some believers have gotten tired! They served in the past and do not want to serve anymore, they were faithful in the past and today do not want to serve anymore and say they are tired!
Is anyone feeling tired here? Some say: now I will take some holiday from the church, holiday from serving God. I will sit on the church bench and do nothing, I am tired. I work, and no one recognises my work, no one values me.
Paul exhorts: DO NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.
When will we reap the reward of doing good? AT THE PROPER TIME!
It is not at your time! It is in God’s time!
You will plant things here on this earth that you may not see the immediate result. Many rewards you will only receive in eternity!
We are investing in a church here in Ireland, and I believe that with many things we will never see the results, but this new generation that is coming, our children, the youth and teenagers, they will enjoy your work.
We are making an investment not for ourselves but for the next generation!
The reward is not here on this earth; it will be when you arrive home and are welcomed by your Father!
Continue sowing, continue doing good, continue serving! Stop looking for payback and continue on!
If you feel you are not being valued, if some people are criticising you, if no one sees it, continue to do good and do not become weary, do not be discouraged because AT THE PROPER TIME YOU WILL REAP YOUR REWARD IF YOU DO NOT GIVE UP!
IT IS NOT AT OUR TIME BUT AT GOD’S TIME, YOU WILL REAP THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOUR! SO DO NOT GIVE UP NOW!
When should we serve, when should we do good?
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Galatians 6:10 NIV
When should we serve? While we have opportunities. The opportunity to do good may pass, did you know that?
While we have opportunities!
My dear ones, take advantage of the opportunity that God is giving you to serve! Because the day will come when you will no longer have this opportunity! And you will regret it because you did not take advantage of the time you had.
Perhaps you will want to do it and will not be able to anymore! Perhaps because you are old, because time has passed, or you have died!
When is this opportune time?
Whenever your neighbour is near you, whenever you see something that needs to be done, offer yourself!
Opportunities are around us, we just need to open our eyes and have the desire to serve.
Whom should we serve?
“let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 NIV
TO ALL – What is ALL?
Your family, your husband, your wife, your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends, neighbours, believers or non-believers, etc. It does not matter the colour of the skin, their nationality or social class.
To all, but especially to the family of believers!
The church members, our brothers and sisters, have priority. We need to prioritise our time for the church and the family of believers! To all, but…
God’s purpose is that no brother or sister in the church should be in need!
We are a family, the family of faith! Do good, especially to the family of faith, in the church!
We have so many needs in the church, so many things to do, but it is always the same few who do it!
Only 20% of our members do 100% of the church’s work. The other 80% sit on the bench, just being served. We need to change this!
When the church becomes this community that serves, people will believe in Jesus, the church of Jesus will grow, and the name of the Lord will be glorified.
Unfortunately, the church of Christ has lost these values taught by Jesus. How difficult it is to find servants in the Kingdom of God, how difficult it is to find volunteers and people who want to serve others!
Many want to lead and be in command, but few recognise that true leadership begins with service and helping others to grow.
Jesus gave us a lesson: Serving is an attitude, an action!
You are not on this earth just to serve God and be with God, but to serve people! And when you serve people, you are serving God.
You were called by God to serve and relate to people.
Jesus gave this example and said, go and do the same; you will be happy if you practice this! I gave you the example! Now go and do it! You are a servant, so serve, offer to serve, serve in your cell group, serve in the children’s ministry, in the AV Team, Welcome Team, at Hope Cafe, etc.
Be a good and faithful servant, offer yourself for the Kingdom of God without choosing the job. Remember that those who serve are the great ones in the kingdom of God.
May God bless you.