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So far this
series, we have discussed the brokenness of our world, and the need for us to
serve the world and help take part in God’s mission to bring shalom. We have
discussed the importance of having the right attitude for service (an attitude
of submission to each other). We have discussed the necessity of simplifying
our lives so that we can serve.
Well then--let us talk about how to serve.
As with
fasting, the Bible is clear that it is the heart which makes the biggest impact
in serving: why do you do it? Jesus says that you will be rewarded for
serving…but if you are doing it self-righteously, for honor or gains here on Earth,
then those will be your only reward: this is not Biblical service. Serving
someone Biblically means doing the right thing for them no matter who they are,
no matter what they need. True service is indiscriminate—Jesus was the servant
of all (Mark 9:35).
This is
something Christians often miss: often we are willing to serve but only if
someone agrees with us; we are not willing to meet the needs of those who
disagree with our faith or our values. We justify it as ‘taking a stand’ for
our faith. Yet taking a stand for our faith would be evangelizing the person
who is in need—not withholding service from them. The mark of Christians is
that we willingly give up our rights and serve everyone, so that we may win as
many as possible for Christ (1 Cor 9:19). We must challenge ourselves to serve
those who are enemies (politically or otherwise)—but also share with them the
Good News that they need not stay that way.
The calling
to serve others reminds us that we are here to be God’s hands and feet to those
whom He loves—and God loves all. We fail our task if we withhold our services
for any reason, just as we fail our task if we serve but desire recognition or
prestige or payment for it. No, Christian service is the outpouring of a life
of simplicity and submission: we are untied to the things of this world and we
do not care what others think of us…therefore can truly and radically aid those
in need.
Also, avoid
the error of thinking that it must be “big” things. A church in Ohio made a
name for themselves because one small group did random things for the community
without cause or cost each Saturday—one week scrubbing all the gas station
toilets in their area, one week using umbrellas to walk people through the rain
from the local grocery store to their cars, etc. Many were shocked by the
discipline of service and felt loved by them.
The world is
broken in small ways (like dirty gas station toilets) and big ways (like major
orphan problems in Romania and Ethiopia). We, as God’s people, are called to be
the ones bringing healing and wholeness…we are called to fix the brokenness. Be
active in bringing the much-needed shalom.
There are
three primary things that God gives you to serve. If you have been following
with us up to this point, then you are in communion with Him through
meditation, prayer and fasting; you are aware of your responsibility to help
the world through your study; you are not attached to the things of this world
or burdened with an overwhelmed schedule due to the practice of simplicity; and
you care more about others than yourself due to the art of submission. As a
result, you are now ready to serve the world as a disciple of Jesus.
Time:
We all have time that we can give to help others, and there is always a
need. The church grounds always need maintenance; children’s ministries and
guest service need volunteers; you can go give out donuts or sodas to those
stuck in traffic jams; you can help people load their grocery bags into cars;
roadways need trash picked up; hand out Gatorade at biking trails; clean up at
food courts in the mall. We all have 168 hours of every week. Assuming you are
spending 8 hours a day sleeping, 8 hours a day working, and 3 hours a day in
commutes and mealtime, that is 35 hours per
week of available time. I’m not guilting you to say it should all be
service, but it is really hard to look ourselves in the mirrors and honestly
say we don’t have time to serve when we manage to have time to binge-watch
Netflix or play a new video game or watch three movies. The mature Christian
makes giving your time to others a priority.
Talent: The ideas above require no
special talent, just a giving of your time. But each of us have special gifts
that can help bring shalom into the world—indeed, it is why we were created. We
are each instruments of an orchestra with a slightly different sound, and your
talent is needed. Whatever your talent, there is a use to it. In the Didache, it seems that many first
century Christians actually tithed their talents
to the church body—bakers brought a tenth of their bread to feed the
congregation on Sunday, tailors made 10% more clothing and gave it to the poor,
doctors spent part of each week giving free medical care/advice to sick
parishioners, scribes and scholars translated documents, artists painted for
the church. Whatever your talent, there is a way to serve your church body and
community with it—be creative, it’s why God made you!
Treasure:
We also each have been given finances and we are entrusted as its
stewards. Its purpose is to bring others into the faith. As I have taught several times before, I do not hold that tithing a set value (10%) is required; instead, we are each to
examine ourselves and give cheerfully and sacrificially. Interestingly, I have
found that being freed from the idea of tithing, I actually give more than 10%, not less! Whatever you
can give, do so: it is the heart and sacrifice that matter, as Jesus makes
clear (Mark 12:42). Jesus fascinatingly says that where we spend our money, we
will find our heart caring more about that thing…so where do you spend yours?
(Luke 12:34; Matt 6:21)
