“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
-Ephesians 6:7
This is found in service rather than self-centeredness.
It is interesting when one searches for “service” on Wikipedia many different categories pop up, such as Activities, arts, entertainment, media, economics, business, Politics, People, Places and Religion. It would therefore suggest that this is a topic of great discussion and importance.
Everyone has experienced both good and bad service in their lives, and know that you are more likely to talk about the bad service than the good you have received.
When we bring this concept to religion what does service mean for our daily walk with God?
If we are disciples of Jesus and truly want to follow in His footsteps we need to ask: WWJD (sounds like such a cliché, but “What Would Jesus Do”?).
Jesus gave clear instruction: “Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
-Matthew 20:27-28
Throughout Jesus’ walk on this earth, there was not one moment that He did not serve others, giving His life as the ultimate gift so we can come to a place of restoration with God. The following clip shows us how humanity came to be where we are:
History shows us that when community life changed to hierarchy, the circle of relationships changed to the chain of command, and this destroyed relationships. Our relationship with each other and with God.
Life after all takes a bit of time and a lot of relationships. We will do well to remember that we are the crown of God’s creation and as such can be free from the constraints that hinder relationships.
This notion should however be rooted in our relationship with God, first and foremost. When we are in a relationship with God, our relationship with people becomes so much more tolerable. We will end up loving as Jesus loved.
The following video shows us who exactly Jesus was:
How do we achieve “service” in our daily walk?
“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:12-14)
The Challenge
Jesus, who washed his disciple’s feet the day before he was crucified is our example to follow. This is however a great challenge as it is very hard, especially in today’s self-centred living to not lose focus of service to Jesus and the world. Please note the following clip is quite graphic as it has been taken from “The Passion of Christ”, and starts with Jesus being crucified, thinking back on when He washed His disciple’s feet. It is a perfect depiction of the example of service:
Casting Crown’s song, “If we are the Body”, describes this perfectly:
Chores:
But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way, there is a way traveller is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Chores:
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
An example
Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, since her diving accident in 1967 is an amazing example of what can be done if one is “sold out to Jesus”. She is an internationally known mouth artist, a talented vocalist, a radio host, an author of 17 books and an advocate for disabled persons worldwide. She has also encouraged others to be of service.
This can be seen in her “Wheels for the World” ministry outreach. Where prisoner services donate wheelchairs that are then gifted to third-world countries. Read more on her efforts in the link below:
Conclusion:
Brennan Manning wrote the following in his book “The Ragamuffin Gospel”: “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
May we come to realise the high price Jesus has paid for us to be in relationship with God, and to be of service to Him. May we also restore our relationships with others and be of service to them. May we be Jesus’ hands and feet?
