Serving in modern society often carries a negative connotation. Despite being a great thing, many people see serving as something "below" them. Those who feel this way don't truly understand Jesus or His teachings. Serving is good for the soul. Being prideful will only damage your soul.
Serving Others
"The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Matthew 23:11-12
As the Lord says, the greatest among us are servants. The ones who will be exalted, while those who exalt themselves will be humbled. In this way, Jesus teaches that serving is good. It's downplayed in the modern world, yet very important in God's eyes.
Think about the last time you served someone. Maybe you helped seat people at a special event, served your friends food at a wedding, or cleaned up when nobody else stayed. While these things don't sound glamorous, they are actually amazing. People who choose to do these things have a happier soul. Those who always desire more and never want to serve others feel more than likely to assume they are entitled to the best and should be served. The thought may have never crossed their minds to serve someone else.
When we serve others, it gives our lives purpose. When we serve God by obeying Him, we do exactly what He designed us to do. We were created to praise, love, and serve Him. When doing these things, our souls are happiest and full of joy. If you have ever reflected on a time you refused to serve others or to serve God, you might recall feeling lousy. God didn't create you to think you are better than others, nor did He create you to become prideful. When people think they are better than others, they will never humble themselves to be a servant to anyone. They will instead view themselves as being better than everyone else.
This is not a biblical perspective. All of us are created equally and loved by God. If someone thinks they are better than others or are "too good" to serve others, they lack Christian maturity. If you think this way, it is time to repent of this way of thinking and take on the nature of a servant.
Servanthood As Shown by Christ
Jesus Himself is God in the flesh (John 1:1). Despite being God, He lowered Himself to servanthood. This shows us how important having a servant's heart is to Jesus. He became our servant by dying the death we deserved on the cross. Through His servanthood, He provided salvation for all those who would place faith in His Name. Jesus is the perfect example of a servant because He always put other people's needs over His own.
Christ never saw Himself as being better than others, even though He is truly better than all of us. If God Himself can humble Himself to become a servant to mankind, why can't we humans have a servant's heart and choose to follow Jesus' example? We all have to choose to do this because nobody can make us take on the form of a servant. Instead, we have to want to follow Jesus' example and be a servant to all.
Ways to Serve
There are many ways to serve the people in your life. If you are ready to experience the blessings of serving others and the good it brings to your soul, the first step is to pray for an opportunity. Go to God in prayer and ask Him what He thinks. He will be able to point you in the right direction. When thinking of ways to serve others, follow Jesus' example and be creative... Utilize your skills and talents to pick the best way to serve others.
Seek out resources at your church, a soup kitchen, or another ministry. Your church might have an opening for someone to help in the youth group, a soup kitchen might have an hour opening to help pass our free food to the homeless, or another ministry might provide you with the perfect opportunity to serve others. If you are a great cook, serve at a homeless ministry. If you love talking with people, serve your elderly neighbor by spending a few days a week with them. If you love animals, serve your friend by looking after their pet while they are gone on vacation. You can also serve within your own family. Maybe you are married, and your spouse does all the cooking and cleaning. You should try to take on the role of a servant and do the cooking and cleaning for them sometimes. In the same way, maybe you have moved out, and your parents are older and need help. You can take on the role of a servant by driving them to doctors' appointments or taking them to the grocery store.
Obedience is the greatest way to show God you love Him. Serving God is good for the soul and can bring God great glory. It can be hard sometimes, but God will give you the strength you need. When it seems nobody notices, God sees your hard work and how you have served others. Serving others is a beautiful way to be the hands and feet of Christ. Jesus is delighted when we take on a servant's heart. If we truly love God and want to do what He says, we should naturally want to serve others in our words, hearts, and actions. If you are having trouble today aligning your heart with God's desire for you to have a servant's heart, ask Him for His help today. He always enjoys hearing from you and will answer your prayer in His timing. Once you can start serving, you will be able to notice how serving is good for the soul.
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