How do you feel about serving in the church? Do you feel a sense of moral duty or obligation when called upon to serve? Does it draw out your best because of what it does for your ego? I suspect the modern perspective of this type of ministry is shallow and sometimes just shoddy. Years ago, church members were asked to bring the clothes they no longer used so a missionary could take them to his/her field of ministry to give to the natives to wear. As I remember, those clothes had buttons intentionally cut off and must have been the more ragtag ones in their house. After all, they thought, “it was just for the natives.” Could it be we miss God’s purpose for us giving of ourselves to others, be it clothes, food, teaching or finances?
Isaiah 58:10 tells us if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the suffering, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. (NASB) I understand that to mean personally, if you or I pour myself out or stretch beyond our comfort zone for the hungry and try to meet the desires of the afflicted, it will lift our depression or the cloud of heaviness around us. This type of service goes beyond the sense of duty or obligation.
Most of what we hear about Christian service today references our possessions, abilities, education or given skill set. People think just giving one of those is what service is all about. Indeed, that is a worthy approach. However, when it is done and said, that kind of service can be reduced to a self-centered spectacle. It is mostly about being seen by others in contrast to sacrificing for them. Isn’t there something missing in that kind of ministry? Let’s admit it. It doesn’t take much to push beyond our comfort zone or sacrifice to give what comes naturally, what we have plenty of; or to serve with our friends. There’s something sacred about pressing beyond what is comfortable, natural to us, or the secret desire for recognition. Interestingly, the recipients intuitively sensed the genuine humility and sincerity Jesus had in those moments.
To be candid, I receive far more from a brother, sister or guest speaker when I sense they are pouring out the very core of who they are. There is something far greater than knowledge, singing, building or whatever, when the server becomes incidental to the spirit within them that freely flows out of their voice, gestures, and eyes. Yes, Jesus miraculously healed and taught with great wisdom in obedience to His Father. But at the end of his life, was He most known and highly honored because He poured out of His life so you and I can live? We are all familiar with the verse in John 3:16, but I suspect few are familiar with what the same anointed writer (John) also wrote. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16, NLT2). Far more than moral duty or showing off our God-given abilities, meaningful ministry to others involves giving up our lives for our brothers and sisters, as Jesus did for us. When a person is ready to give their ALL, that includes giving more than their knowledge, natural talent or skills, then they will find His joy of serving and see the spiritual fruit of their giving.
This blog has sobered me. I have not always poured out my innermost being to serve those in need. Paul wrote, my life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service [I offer to God] for your faith. Yet I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you (Philippians 2:17, GW). It is in this context I want to more consistently pour myself out when asked to mentor whoever hungers to grow in their relationship with God and His word.