Selfless Service
Social Media has seemed to kill selfless serving. Every good deed, mission trip, donation, and volunteer opportunity is broadcasted to hundreds of friends to receive their praise and likes. Yet, the bible says:
Matthew 6:1-4, “be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”.
How strange is it that we have completely turned this verse around? Sometimes we think that if more people know we are good, then God will see us as good too. But this isn’t God, this isn’t grace, and this isn’t what Jesus came to do. Our goodness is never defined by our actions, but rather by our identity as children of God, which we were given when Jesus let himself be killed on the cross. But if our good deeds don’t change how God sees us, why serve at all? We serve selflessly to honor the Lord. When we become followers of Christ, Jesus shakes up our hearts and gives us a desire to help his people. Listen to the Lord when He calls you to make an impact in someone else’s life. When we serve selflessly, we act as the hands and feet of Jesus, honoring people because Jesus loves them, rather than for an increase in our personal status. Additionally, as Christians, we are working with every piece of ourselves to become more like Jesus.
Mark 10:45 says, “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”.
If we want to be like Jesus, we need to serve others with pure hearts, putting in every effort to be a faithful servant of God; and therefore, a faithful servant of people in the name of Jesus. The bible talks about this subject all the time, here are some more verses to help better understand God’s heart about selfless serving:
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” Hebrews 6:10
“The greatest among you will be your servant” Matthew 23:11
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” 2 Chronicles 15:7
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” 1 Peter 4:10
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.Practice hospitality” Romans 12:9-13
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” Galatians 5:13