SERVING OTHERS & SERVING GOD

SERVING OTHERS & SERVING GOD Do not overlook the ultimate design of God’s mercy, "to show forth the praises of Him." {1 Peter 2:9} The professing Christian who struggles with self denial in the service of others over self will also struggle with serving God. Whether we consider our role of serving others or of serving God, we must rise above the consuming desire to serve self before we are capable of either function. Despite the many failures of churches, God established community worship in the New Testament with a purpose. We grow in spiritual stature as we learn in community to serve others above ourselves. The struggles and schisms that often mar the harmony of churches grow out of the human desire to rule, to control others, and eventually to gain honor to self. We may attempt to justify our efforts to control others by claiming that we merely intend to nudge them to do their best, but in the end our failure to serve and our vain attempts to dominate others will manifest our sinful self-centeredness. The worshipping community of believers, presented in the New Testament under the captions of either disciples or churches, calls us to rise above self and to serve others. We readily give lip service to this idea. It is so fundamental to New Testament Christianity that we could hardly avoid it. However, in personal conduct we seldom live up to the words. Put yourself in the setting of a local church faced with simple daily decisions. They need not be life or death issues. What color do we paint the walls of the sanctuary? How will we arrange the furniture? The decision process requires that people voice their preference. Biblical Christianity appears after that point. Will we graciously defer to others of a different opinion than ours? Or will we work to convince others that our ideas are superior and should be implemented? In such mundane settings as these we will either display our genuine Christian spirit, or we will exhibit the residue of our old sinful nature that seeks dominance over others.

Whether we serve God or other believers, we must first grow above the consuming desire for self. As a Scriptural concept, self-denial is not accomplished by personal determination and willpower. We discover the ability to deny self in direct proportion to our realization of God’s faithful provision of all our legitimate needs. Only as we realize His faithfulness in our lives will we find the security to devote ourselves to others and to God. We need not work to gain what we need or wish. If the need is legitimate and right for us, God will see that we have it. Trust Him, serve Him in the only way you can in this life-serve others. As you invest your life and energy in the service of others, God will invest Himself in supplying your needs. How liberating! Now we are free to show forth His praises, to invest every ounce of energy in magnifying Him with less and less concern for ourselves. God never disappoints His people who put such unrestrained trust in Him. Are you willing to put His promises to the test?