Serve
Phil 2:1-8, "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!"
Self-righteous Service:
SEVEN WAYS TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN CHRIST
1. The service of small things... a smile, a hug, a ride, etc.
2. The service of guarding the reputation of others... Tit. 3:2 says, "speak evil of no one." In the midst of gossip, do we join in, or do we carefully guard the reputation of others?
3. The service of encouragement... letters of appreciation, notes of encouragement, calls to express care, or any other way we can affirm someone's worth in the Lord (Heb. 10:24)!
4. The service of hospitality... opening yourself and your home to others; just a chance to be together and share!
5. The service of listening... Js 1:19 says, "...be quick to listen, slow to speak...." We don't have to have answers; that is God's job. We just need to offer a heart to listen.
6. The service of bearing one another's burdens... In praying together, we can take our burdens to the Lord and keep each other accountable in the process. God delights when His children pray together, for He knows it draws them closer spiritually to Him and to one another.
7. The service of sharing the Word of God with one another... We can do this in Bible study, casual conversation, or however else God shows us to share. (Above seven adapted from the great book by Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline. For more info: Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988), pp 126-140.)
Self-righteous Service:
- comes through human effort.
- requires external rewards and praise.
- picks and chooses who will be served.
- is affected by feelings and whims.
- expects something in return.
- comes from a relationship with God.
- not bothered by serving in secret.
- does not discriminate.
- is a lifestyle.
- gives all glory to God expecting nothing in return.
SEVEN WAYS TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN CHRIST
1. The service of small things... a smile, a hug, a ride, etc.
2. The service of guarding the reputation of others... Tit. 3:2 says, "speak evil of no one." In the midst of gossip, do we join in, or do we carefully guard the reputation of others?
3. The service of encouragement... letters of appreciation, notes of encouragement, calls to express care, or any other way we can affirm someone's worth in the Lord (Heb. 10:24)!
4. The service of hospitality... opening yourself and your home to others; just a chance to be together and share!
5. The service of listening... Js 1:19 says, "...be quick to listen, slow to speak...." We don't have to have answers; that is God's job. We just need to offer a heart to listen.
6. The service of bearing one another's burdens... In praying together, we can take our burdens to the Lord and keep each other accountable in the process. God delights when His children pray together, for He knows it draws them closer spiritually to Him and to one another.
7. The service of sharing the Word of God with one another... We can do this in Bible study, casual conversation, or however else God shows us to share. (Above seven adapted from the great book by Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline. For more info: Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988), pp 126-140.)
- Jesus is not only our example of how we should serve others, but He is also our energy and our enabler to serve others.
- Service we create is vain; service God creates is valuable.
- Surrender and Submission to God always precede sincere service.
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