FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
You might have heard the phrase, “Me, Myself, and I.” To some people, it reflects a stage of human development when toddlers try to discover themselves and think that the world belongs to them. They try to grasp and hold on to everything with the tremendous force of strength they believe they possess.
It is pathetic that in the developmental process, some people get stuck in the toddler stage – “Me, Myself, and I” – and never reach a point where they can let go of the toys and little things that would make them effective servants of others. In effect, they find all kinds of reasons not to serve. Here are twelve of the most common excuses (I have heard) why people are unwilling to serve.
- I am too busy
- I am preoccupied with other things right now
- I have felt under-appreciated when I try to serve
- I am watching first
- I cannot serve when everything is out of control
- I serve in other ways
- I am waiting for someone to ask me
- I feel burnt out right now
- I am too shy
- I don’t have enough information about what I need to do
- I don’t know where to start
- I don’t have the gift or the skill
Some members of the church in Galatia were likely making some of the above excuses why the apostle Paul told them directly to “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13). The encouragement is most significant, especially in our contemporary times when the attitude of the world is so much about self-serving. While we are (all) called to live in a community, some only want to serve themselves and those closest to them. But such should be reminded that society gives us the best opportunity to serve. One who lives in isolation cannot serve. The world is a place for us to form community so we can serve.
Service builds community. This is why we are called to serve not only the people we know – our family, friends, and other acquaintances – but also strangers and foreigners who are less known to us. We are called to serve the oppressed, orphans, widows, and all with whom we come in contact. As is said, servicing is central to getting our relationships right.
To be most effective in service, we must understand what service demands. I offer up twelve of the most incredible demands in the following list.
- Love is the fundamental ingredient for authentic service.
- The humility that must be connected to love.
- Respect that is needed to affirm our appreciation of others we serve.
- The graciousness that demonstrates that serving is a delight.
- There is a need for selfless service.
- The freedom that lifts service above enslavement.
- The demand for sacrifice. If you are not willing to sacrifice, you will never serve well.
- Service takes time.
- Service calls for patience.
- Service that calls for mindfulness – Putting the thoughts into what is being done.
- Then there is the demand for the willing heart – (Big) George Foreman used to put in his advertising of muffler services the phrase, “Put your heart into it.”
- Service requires courage and commitment – Service is a dare, a risk, you never know that what you do will always be appreciated but do it anyway.
We can all learn from Jesus Christ, who risked His life to serve. He 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.” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). His life was all about servicing. As is said, He lived and died as the supreme example of humble, self-sacrificing service (John 13:1-17). He served by emptying Himself of His exalted position and “taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)
In effect, service is not about position or power but about privilege. It is the opportunity God has given us as we live in the world. And as we do so, we serve one another and are blessed with the joy of service.
