“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve” (Mk 10:45)
Lord, may I love you more. And may I serve you because I love you. Not to gain any reward, but because you are worthy.
People who walk with God give their lives to serve His kingdom. Service to Christ is a basic and normal part of the Christian life. God’s people work to advance the gospel.
Now I suppose I need to clear up a common misconception about working for the kingdom. It is this: working for the kingdom is not works righteousness.
Grace lies at the foundation of Christianity. Salvation is a gift. Holiness is a gift. Forgiveness, joy, and peace are gifts. And sometimes Christians emphasize these gifts in such a way that they simply consume them. They lounge in their forgiveness and salvation and are quick to fight any suggestion that they ought to serve the church or work for the kingdom. Grace then becomes an excuse to do nothing.
This notion of Christianity is light years from that of Jesus, who called people to give away their lives for His kingdom. Genuine faith serves God. It may be true that we are saved by grace, but it is also true that we are saved for good works in Christ.
Thus, the Christian who walks with God wants to serve the kingdom. It is not enough merely to attend church. God wants you actively involved in its ministry. God wants you to serve.
Christians who do not serve grow spiritually fat. They lie around in their grace without ever realizing that the grace they received frees them to serve, and that the strength to serve is itself grace. In other words, the Christians who never serve limit the grace they receive, for it is when you come face to face with bringing the gospel to difficult people or planting a church – when you face the struggles of ministry – that you begin to see how much more grace you need.
Christian faith grows through ministry. Ministry shows you your need for prayer, which means it shows you your need for God. When you cut yourself off from ministry, you cut back the grace of God. When you say, “I’m too busy to serve,” you forget that it is God whom you are too busy to serve – the One who has shown you such kindness. And you won’t serve Him.
People who do not serve the kingdom do not understand grace. Or the kingdom. They understand merely their own desires.
If serving is normal, how then should we serve?
Serve from the heart
Serving is not legalism. It is the natural overflow of a heart in love with Jesus. Therefore, the best step you can take toward healthy Christian service is to deepen your love for Jesus. Pursue Christ, not Christ’s work.
Serve sacrificially
Serving is just a different form of giving. Instead of giving money, you give time, skills, and energy. Give such resources generously.
The Christian who walks with God may have a job but still finds time to minister to refugees, to teach a Bible study, to organize a prayer gathering, to facilitate a neighborhood outreach, or to do any one of a thousand other ministries that advance the kingdom of God.
Serving the kingdom is so basic to a healthy Christian life that if you work a job that consistently leaves you no time for ministry, you might want to look for a new job or look at how you manage your time. Jesus’ disciples left their homes and careers to advance the kingdom. God may not ask that level of sacrifice from you, but He will require sacrifices of some sort. Be willing to make them. This is part of following Christ, for He was willing to sacrifice His life to serve.
Serve now
Many people put off giving to the future, and many put off serving to the future.
“When I get my promotion, then I will have more time and then I will serve . . . When I graduate . . . When my parents die . . . When I get a car . . . When . . . When . . . When . . .” Jesus rebuked the man who said “but first let me bury my father.”
Now. Serve now. You don’t have to serve in some big way. And yes, there is a time for rest and to take breaks, but such rest is for people who are already serving. If you’re not serving, start.
There are many related and more complicated issues we could cover here, but for now, this will suffice. For many, this is where you are. You need to see the connection between your relationship with Jesus and your service for Him. Don’t try to have the one without the other.
