One of the most neglected aspects of Christian life in the mainstream churches is service. I do not mean the church service, I mean to serve. I do not mean serving the pastor or church instiution either. Serving is actually an act of care, compassion, and love to a fellow Christian. Our Lord and God Jesus Christ said, "The greatest among you will be your servant," (Matthew 23:11), and "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35). Now Christ is not asking us to take up charity case or program to prove we are good servants. Rather it is a state of the heart, disposition, and loving zeal to help others in Christ. I sight at sight of service in decline, that the body is content to be codependent to the pastor and spend their time babying him, rather than serving each other, the community of Christ at large, and others with warmth of Christ's compassion, and love. For Jesus told us, "they will know you are my disciples by your love for one another." (John 13:35). And yet for some reason "love thy neighbor," has given way to James' rebuke, "If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead [PenCommentary: ineffective, dead as a witness, like whitewashed tombs]." (James 2:16-17).
Our relational compass is the cross, vertical for our relationship with God, and it being chiefest concern of our life (Matthew 22:29-41, John 17:3), and the cross beam which is our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors, the community at large, our enemies, and the rest of the world. Our desire should be to serve one another in love, to take Christ's example who said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45). We often think we would be happy having everything served to us, that we could be some Byzantine prince or princess who eats grapes, wears a golden gown and robe, and people come to us to serve us. But in reality, true joy comes from Christ, and doing as He did, serving others. How we serve can vary from practical to the spiritual to the mental and beyond. The point is we must be open and ready to serve, not begrudgingly or because of some religious compunction and guilt trip, but from the depths of love in our heart for our kin in Christ. But what if you don't know how? The first steps is to ask Christ, press into the Holy Spirit, and lend your ear to Father, and as you do this consider yourself in their position, if they are poor, what if you were poor? If they are sick, have you been sick? If they are in prision, have you ever felt trapped, even in your own skin and soul? Empathy is emmited by Emmanuel in us, and we must take heed of someone's need. We aren't seeking to earn stars in our crown or riches; but rather we are seeking to be the living Body of Christ. We all have needs, and burdens, we must listen for them, get our minds of ourselves and consider the lack in others. Now it is sensible to see it, but if that fails, ask a brother or sister. There are patients in hospitals who have no vistors, frustrated mothers who have no time for cooking when paying bills, working two jobs, and doing online courses while ferrying their children to school, and beyond.
There is great notoriety in seeking to bless strangers, to help brothers and sisters in Christ abroad. And while this is to be commended, I wonder why we don't bother to help a brother nearby? It is not that I suggest we neglect one to help the other, those abroad from where we live need help, especially in war torn countries, and famine, and plague. And yet, for some reason we have congregations full of suffering isolationists, who we could help, but remain ignored because somewhere else is a better PR campaige for the pastor, and abroad sounds more exotic and exciting than here at home. But it is at home that so many are suffering. There are brothers and sisters in Christ we encounter everyday, and we ignore their burdens. The Apostle Paul said, "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ," (Galatians 6:2), and Christ our Savior said, "Then the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne [cross ref: Matthew 24:29-41, Revelation 19:11-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17]. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46). It is incumbent upon us as Christians to see to our brother nearby, and yet still pray and help those far away in the community and family of Christ.
Serving isn't about keep a score card on good deeds, meriting salvation (that is free in believing and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, Son of God, and God, Romans 10:9-10, John 6:40, John 17:3, John 3:16), nor is it about trying to burn ourselves out in service of others. While we should be zealous to help each other, we should not neglect our chief and most important relationship with LORD Trinity, and we must not let serving severe our relationships with those in our charge already, i.e. family, and immediate friends. We must walk according to Holy Spirit, and discern the extent of our intervention and aid. We do not want to become apathetic, saying, "I will pray," when we could do more (,James 2:16-17) but at same time we do not want to become burned out (overdo it, wear ourselves out, lose all stamina and energy) spreading ourselves too thin. We need time with LORD everyday, time to ourselves (enjoying something we like), and to serve others. It's a balance, it is track relay, not a marathon. We also need to accept and allow people to aid us; to let others serve us as well, lest they never get to bless. If you do not feel deep compassion, meaning you want to serve but don't have a agape and ahava type love, but still want to help, then serve and in time the well of love will grow. However, do not serve resentfully, begrudgingly, and complaining in your heart, mind, and even attitude, and composure and body language; those you serve will sense the resentment, and your serving will be void before God and them. So let us serve with love, compassion, humility, tenderness, kindness, and genuine feelings of concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
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