Serving others is an expression of love. Love is more than an overwhelming romantic feeling. It is a choice we make to care deeply about someone or something. God wants us to love others as He has loved us. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:10,11,19; ESV) God also wants us to treat others as we would like to be treated. “‘So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.'” (Matthew 7:12, ESV)
It’s fun to help others when they are really grateful or when they give back to us for our kindness shown toward them. Serving people does have its own rewards. But there are times God asks us to serve when it is nothing more than a sacrifice on our part. We get no ‘thank you’ in return. The people aren’t willing or able to ‘bless us back’. No one is watching, clapping their hands or giving us kudos for our good deeds. Serving can be rewarding, but it can also be hard. God wants us to be willing to serve no matter the situation or the outcome. He wants us to do it out of love for Him. Not only because He loved us, but because He also has love for those we are serving.
“‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'” (Matthew 5:43-48, ESV)
These things are easier said than done. We can say with confidence when we are comfortable and full of joy that we would readily answer God’s call, even if it came as a cost to our own life and livelihood. But would we? What if He asks us to serve someone we really dislike, or to do something that would help someone else but might challenge the comfort we find in our own little circle of friends? What if it would make us physically uncomfortable or would possibly ruin the ‘reputation’ we have so carefully built? These are hard questions, yet in reality, they need to be answered.
I want to have a heart that is ready to serve. The only way I know how to do that is to remain in the love of God. If I remain in His love, then His love is more readily available to flow through me into the lives of others. As well, I will be more likely to have God’s perspective and His love for those I am serving. I will be able to see them as God does: His created beings who need a Savior just as much as myself.
A Deeper Walk With God 