Should a Christian Serve?

When we talk about our lives as Christians, we often hear questions like these: “Where do you serve?” “What area do you serve in?” “How many church members do you serve?” It is as if it is a given that a Christian serves. Without realizing it, service is often used as a measure of a person’s spirituality.

Before I understood what God truly expects from His disciples, I did not want to be involved in serving in the church. All the more if that service required me to deal with other people. I thought, why trouble myself with knowing about other people’s lives? Besides, are we only considered spiritual when we serve?

Yet what Jesus says in Matthew 20:28 struck me hard.

“Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

It turns out that serving is not only something we must do. Serving was Jesus’ very purpose in coming into the world. If our Lord Himself served, then should not we, as His servants, all the more serve?

It did not stop there. My way of thinking changed a great deal when I observed the way Jesus’ disciples around me lived. I saw much inspiration from brothers and sisters in the faith firsthand. They feel burdened by other people’s difficulties and life problems. They can even serve out of their own lack and limitations. Even when going through struggles, they do not stop serving.

It turns out that serving in His congregation is not about a choice, but about the purpose God has given us. I want to share a few things I learned from the way several figures in the Bible served.

1. The Right Burden, the Wrong Heart - Martha

“As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and kept listening to His word, while Martha was very busy serving. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.’ (Luke 10:38-42).

Have we ever felt what Martha felt? We know there is a need that must be met through our service. But instead of doing it with joy, we feel burdened and feel as though we are working alone. We serve, but we also watch what other people are doing.

When we serve with the wrong heart, it will feel heavy, and grumbling will arise in our hearts. In service, it is very important for us to examine our own hearts. There is no need to look at what others do or do not do. When we have the right heart, we think only of pleasing the Lord.

2. Rejoicing in Service, Whatever the Circumstances - Paul

“...I served the Lord with all humility. In that service I shed many tears and went through many trials from the Jews who wanted to kill me.” (Acts 20:19)

Have you ever been in a low place? It is not easy to serve when our circumstances are bad. Meanwhile, when things are going well, it is easier to give thanks and be enthusiastic in serving, isn’t it?

Paul is an extraordinary example in serving the Lord. Prison, conflict, calamity, and even natural disasters did not dampen his zeal to give 100% to God. He also did not let other people’s opinions of him lower his standard for serving with joy.

How often do we promise God that we will serve once we have a good job, a spouse, children, have graduated, have a vehicle, and all kinds of other reasons? Let us learn from Paul and give according to the standard God has given, whatever our circumstances in life may be.

3. Receiving the Reward of Service - Stephen

“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Then he said, ‘Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ (Acts 7:54-56)     I once asked in my heart, what is the reward for those who serve? Perhaps we answer in our hearts, ‘The reward will come later in heaven.’ Yet often we are troubled instead by what we see. Do people thank me for my service? What do I get from my hard work, maybe coming earlier than others, or staying up late to finish what is needed for ministry? Stephen’s story is clear proof to us that what matters most is how God sees our service. Stephen received nothing from all his service while on earth, not even praise, much less honor. Yet in the final moment of his life, he was given the opportunity to see heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. It was as if Jesus Himself gave a “standing ovation” that could only be seen and felt by Stephen. How special was the reward he received. It was all only between him and God. This story greatly strengthens me to keep serving for as long as I live.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way, is pleasing to God and approved by people.” (Romans 14:17-18)

Let us make service the purpose of our lives. To serve the Lord with the right heart, with joy in every circumstance, and with confidence in the special reward that God will give to each one of us.

* Church GKDI is currently in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area. If you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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