"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:5-7, NKJV, boldface added).
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, NKJV, boldface added).
"Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the
wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve
Him" (Malachi 3:18, NKJV, boldface added).
When Jesus took up the towel in the Upper Room to wash the disciple's feet, they were taken aback at his servile act that set a new precedent, because Jesus was asking them to do likewise with each other--i.e., not to think that it's about you, and be willing to humble yourself in service one to another to meet their needs (foot-washing was considered the work of slaves, yet Jesus did it; how much more us!). Jesus said that he who humbles himself like a child will be considered greatest in His kingdom. We must have the idea of John the Baptist, who said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The important thing to consider in service is that the way up is down in God's economy! It is an honor to humble yourself and to esteem others more highly than yourself--some people are egotistical and all they think about is themselves; humility is not thinking less of yourself, or having low self-esteem, but not thinking of yourself at all!
True happiness is getting your eyes off of yourself, as it is said: Look at the world and be distressed, look at yourself and be depressed, look at Jesus and be at rest! Once you've experienced the love of Jesus, you want to pass it on! They have this "pay it forward" tradition, where you pay for another person out of a random act of kindness--this is one way of reaching out to those in need and even changing life of a person who may be having a bad day.
True service must be voluntary and not mandatory or obligatory. We are indebted to God with a debt we can never pay back and we should have the same godly attitude towards others--to be willing to oblige them; since it's better that they will owe a debt of gratitude to you, that they can't repay! That's why Jesus said, "It's more blessed to give than to receive" in Acts 20:35. We should be known as ministers of kindness to those in need to demonstrate the love of Jesus in us for the world to see--that's why we are lights in this dark world.
God will reward us for faithfulness (we are not necessarily called to success, which is His option) and never forget even giving a cup of cold water in Jesus' name will not lose its reward. "For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do," (Heb. 6:10, ESV). Remember, he who is faithful in little shall be faithful in much! God sees and keeps track of our work done as vessels of honor in His name. He rewards us for what He accomplishes through us (cf. Isa. 26:12). "But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded," (2 Chronicles 15:7, ESV). God is no man's debtor and will make sure that we are rewarded better than we deserve.
We have to live in light of eternity, because our reward may not be in this life: "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised," (Heb. 11:39, ESV). What is the faith that pleases God? And without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must "believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him," (Heb. 11:6, ESV). What He's done for others, He will do for you, because He's still in the resurrection business and Jesus changes lives. Remember what Jesus said to Thyatira, "I know your good deeds."
There are a few pointers in serving: Our motive must be love out of a pure heart and not for self-aggrandizement; it must be done in faith believing God will reward you, whether man does or not; you must persevere and not give up, but remain faithful to what God has called you to do. Sometimes it may cost us something, but we should consider the cost before going on the journey.
The non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms and we all have a calling and will find it if we go on to know the Lord. We are not slaves of our neighbor but have a servant's heart. Slaves are owned by someone and servants just do service for others. Jesus is our Master and we are His slaves and He has enlisted us in the service of each other. We are to know the Scripture "that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17, ESV). We all have a testimony to protect and must not jeopardize it by not practicing what we preach: "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works..." (Titus 1:16, ESV).
The reward of our service is eternal and we don't want to lose out. Our works will be tested for their eternal value, whether they are wood, hay, and stubble, or silver and gold. Only the valuable metals will stand the heat of the fire's test. It's true some believers may end up with no reward--for they never did anything in the Lord's name, but only for their own glory and fame, power, or fortune. The test of a man is how he responds to praise, and we are not to serve for the praise of man, but the approval of God, not as people-pleasers.
Caveat: Believers must not become converted to the program instead of to Christ, becoming essentially mere do-gooders who put their faith in their deeds--that's why some will say, "...' Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'" (Matt. 7:22, NKJV). The smallest of good deeds done in the Lord's name will be rewarded if done in faith! God sees the motive of the heart, while a man looks upon the appearance. Jesus said that only he who does the will of His Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 7:21). Do we want the applause of man or the approbation of God? I am not against good deeds; however, there's no lasting reward to deeds done in the power of the flesh. The Lord will say to some that they've had their reward.
What is the raison d'etre for service-orientation? The true measure of a man's greatness is not how many people serve him, but how many people he serves. We must realize that we are all but servants in God's eyes, and the best commendation we can hope for at the bema (which is the Judgment Seat of Christ) is this: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" Hence, it is a privilege just be used by God and we must realize that "[God] has [done] for us all our works" (Isa. 26:12, ESV).
Paul was not braggadocious, but he did say, "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me..." (Rom. 15:18, NIV). Newsflash: God's economy is a service-oriented economy. Get the right attitude: As Jesus said, "...' Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'" (Matt. 25:40, NKJV). In sum, to attribute to someone a genuine servant's heart is probably the greatest of accolades. Soli Deo Gloria!
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, NKJV, boldface added).
"Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the
wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve
Him" (Malachi 3:18, NKJV, boldface added).
When Jesus took up the towel in the Upper Room to wash the disciple's feet, they were taken aback at his servile act that set a new precedent, because Jesus was asking them to do likewise with each other--i.e., not to think that it's about you, and be willing to humble yourself in service one to another to meet their needs (foot-washing was considered the work of slaves, yet Jesus did it; how much more us!). Jesus said that he who humbles himself like a child will be considered greatest in His kingdom. We must have the idea of John the Baptist, who said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The important thing to consider in service is that the way up is down in God's economy! It is an honor to humble yourself and to esteem others more highly than yourself--some people are egotistical and all they think about is themselves; humility is not thinking less of yourself, or having low self-esteem, but not thinking of yourself at all!
Only Moses and Jesus were called humble or meek in the Bible, that's how rare true humility is--once we think we've got it, we lose it! Serving others takes a mindset like Jesus to see needs that you can fulfill and you are suited for--the hallmark of our testimony should be one of service and dedication to the needs of others. They say: See a need and fulfill it! Who is the neighbor that the good Samaritan helped on the road to Jericho, but someone we meet in our path that we can help? Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that true humility is doing the will of God with a smile. Albert Schweitzer said that only really happy people are those who've learned to serve others. Your Christian life begins once you enlist in His service and go to work as a servant.
True happiness is getting your eyes off of yourself, as it is said: Look at the world and be distressed, look at yourself and be depressed, look at Jesus and be at rest! Once you've experienced the love of Jesus, you want to pass it on! They have this "pay it forward" tradition, where you pay for another person out of a random act of kindness--this is one way of reaching out to those in need and even changing life of a person who may be having a bad day.
True service must be voluntary and not mandatory or obligatory. We are indebted to God with a debt we can never pay back and we should have the same godly attitude towards others--to be willing to oblige them; since it's better that they will owe a debt of gratitude to you, that they can't repay! That's why Jesus said, "It's more blessed to give than to receive" in Acts 20:35. We should be known as ministers of kindness to those in need to demonstrate the love of Jesus in us for the world to see--that's why we are lights in this dark world.
God will reward us for faithfulness (we are not necessarily called to success, which is His option) and never forget even giving a cup of cold water in Jesus' name will not lose its reward. "For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do," (Heb. 6:10, ESV). Remember, he who is faithful in little shall be faithful in much! God sees and keeps track of our work done as vessels of honor in His name. He rewards us for what He accomplishes through us (cf. Isa. 26:12). "But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded," (2 Chronicles 15:7, ESV). God is no man's debtor and will make sure that we are rewarded better than we deserve.
We have to live in light of eternity, because our reward may not be in this life: "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised," (Heb. 11:39, ESV). What is the faith that pleases God? And without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must "believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him," (Heb. 11:6, ESV). What He's done for others, He will do for you, because He's still in the resurrection business and Jesus changes lives. Remember what Jesus said to Thyatira, "I know your good deeds."
There are a few pointers in serving: Our motive must be love out of a pure heart and not for self-aggrandizement; it must be done in faith believing God will reward you, whether man does or not; you must persevere and not give up, but remain faithful to what God has called you to do. Sometimes it may cost us something, but we should consider the cost before going on the journey.
The non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms and we all have a calling and will find it if we go on to know the Lord. We are not slaves of our neighbor but have a servant's heart. Slaves are owned by someone and servants just do service for others. Jesus is our Master and we are His slaves and He has enlisted us in the service of each other. We are to know the Scripture "that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17, ESV). We all have a testimony to protect and must not jeopardize it by not practicing what we preach: "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works..." (Titus 1:16, ESV).
The reward of our service is eternal and we don't want to lose out. Our works will be tested for their eternal value, whether they are wood, hay, and stubble, or silver and gold. Only the valuable metals will stand the heat of the fire's test. It's true some believers may end up with no reward--for they never did anything in the Lord's name, but only for their own glory and fame, power, or fortune. The test of a man is how he responds to praise, and we are not to serve for the praise of man, but the approval of God, not as people-pleasers.
Caveat: Believers must not become converted to the program instead of to Christ, becoming essentially mere do-gooders who put their faith in their deeds--that's why some will say, "...' Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'" (Matt. 7:22, NKJV). The smallest of good deeds done in the Lord's name will be rewarded if done in faith! God sees the motive of the heart, while a man looks upon the appearance. Jesus said that only he who does the will of His Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 7:21). Do we want the applause of man or the approbation of God? I am not against good deeds; however, there's no lasting reward to deeds done in the power of the flesh. The Lord will say to some that they've had their reward.
What is the raison d'etre for service-orientation? The true measure of a man's greatness is not how many people serve him, but how many people he serves. We must realize that we are all but servants in God's eyes, and the best commendation we can hope for at the bema (which is the Judgment Seat of Christ) is this: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" Hence, it is a privilege just be used by God and we must realize that "[God] has [done] for us all our works" (Isa. 26:12, ESV).
Paul was not braggadocious, but he did say, "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me..." (Rom. 15:18, NIV). Newsflash: God's economy is a service-oriented economy. Get the right attitude: As Jesus said, "...' Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'" (Matt. 25:40, NKJV). In sum, to attribute to someone a genuine servant's heart is probably the greatest of accolades. Soli Deo Gloria!
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