SERVING IS MESSY
Glen and I
I have come to realize through my life that from the everyday to specific careers it’s all about serving those around us. My husband and I have recently made service a priority together. It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday and be busy with that. As our children left home, we still filled our days, but realized we might not be filling it with what God had in mind for us to do. This particular message really spoke to us both.
Why is serving messy?
1. Serving involves risk. It usually involves fear and moving out of your comfort zone and a lot of times that means you step out in faith in order to get the job done. There are the obvious walks of lives and professions such as law enforcement or the military. In these, service can mean you go as far as to sacrifice your life. The not so obvious are in the everyday when we have the opportunity to make a difference one life at a time or by donating our time to others. It’s easy to give money, but giving of ourselves and our time is a sacrifice that we often talk ourselves out of! Or I should say, I talked myself out of!
2. Serving involves working with others. I think the Bible verse that Pastor used here says it best.
“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Phil 2:2”
We all come from different backgrounds and have different gifts. The most important thing to remember is that when you are working together you are on the same team, with one mind and one purpose.
3. Serving involves discovering your gift. Every person has a gift and the ability to share it and therefore the opportunity to serve. There are things I do well and other things not so much. We figure out the difference and we all do what we are meant to do creating a smooth working machine. If we are all doing what we are meant to do, we are a working part of the machine and we fit perfectly.
4. Serving involves time. Serving is a command, not an option. Now this is a game changer for most of us. I have struggled with this because I have been a time hog! I don’t like to give it up. Here’s the thing, our lives will always touch too many people to be totally self-involved.
The verse Pastor used here was this: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matt 6:33”
I would add this verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; Love your neighbor as yourself. There are no greater commandments than these. Mark 30-31”
I have discovered you can’t serve others without a heart of love and you can’t love others without serving in some way or another. It all goes hand in hand and it involves in many cases, your time.
My husband and I decided to start by donating time to the USO together as a team. But that is a small thing in God’s bigger picture and I am learning that’s not all of what God had in mind. A neighbor might need some groceries because she can’t get to the store, for example. People need us every day! I challenge you all to find your gift and then find a place where you fit in perfectly to share it in service to others and more importantly to God! Commit to a life style of serving. Discover the gift God has given you! Re-prioritize your time to make service a priority, not an option. Let God use you.
This content is from a recent sermon about service. To listen to this message or others from Pastor Dale Satrum go to Foothills Community Church.
