As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10

We are a soccer family.  My wife was a soccer manager in college; our daughters started playing in elementary school and continue to play, our younger daughter met her husband through soccer; and our grandsons have recently started playing.  Christine and Corey love to play defense on the soccer field.  Their motto is: “forwards win games; defensive players win championships”.   The point is that the players in the background preventing the other team from scoring are as important as those scoring the goals.  It takes the whole team…not just the ones in the limelight.  It’s like that in the church body as well.  While some are in the forefront as preachers and teachers, there are many working quietly in the background serving the needs of the body and others proclaiming Christ as they quietly meet spiritual and physical needs of those outside the church.  Sadly, too many don’t serve.  Some don’t want to interact with others, some feel that they have met their “service requirement” and are in “retirement” while others feel that they are unable.  However, scripture teaches us that as long as we live, we are called to serve in whatever capacity to which God calls us.

Colossians 3:23-24, Romans 12:11 and 1 Samuel 12:24 are very clear that although we may be addressing the needs of those who are moving through life with us, it is God whom we serve.  We are His stewards.  No matter what form our service takes, we are managing the intellectual, manual, physical and financial resources that God has apportioned to us.  Further, our focus should be on God and the role that He has created for us.  It is His opinion that matters, lest we either become arrogant due to our spot in the limelight or despondent when others and/or we do not appreciate the value of our labors.  The only way to keep a balanced perspective is to remember whom we serve and that we are fulfilling the role that was planned for us.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) As in all things, Christ is our example.  He diligently served His Father in Heaven; we are called to do the same.  His attitude was one of submission rather than pride.  He did not stop until His tasks were all completed.  Likewise, we are called to serve with integrity, humility and diligence until we have completed all that God has in store for us.  We do not act to receive, but rather to give.  When we are thanked for our service, we are to give the glory to our Father in Heaven from whom all our resources, strength and wisdom originate.

As 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, we are to use the gifts that God has given to us.  He has given us skills, experience, training, and resources to address the tasks that He has for us.  Each of us is unique in that way, which is why we should never compare ourselves in the realm of service as it often leads to pride or envy…pride because we feel our task is more honorable or envy because of the reverse perspective.   Nor should we exclude ourselves because we feel inadequate.  God uses people in various stages of age, social status, heath, experience and spiritual maturity.  Often times He will use our brokenness to open the door for us to help another in similar circumstances.  Further, He will most certainly ask us to do things that we perceive to exceed our capability to keep us dependent on Him, to show us that He can and will work through us, and to be glorified when He provides beyond what we could ask or imagine.  It is not uncommon for those who are advanced in years or in declining heath to shift from physical tasks to spending time in prayer for the work of the church and those in need because they still desire to serve even though their bodies are weakening.  This is often a task that is undervalued and forgotten.  However, it is critical to the work of the body of Christ.  God can and will use us in whatever circumstance and skill level we find ourselves, we merely have to maintain our relationship with Him in such a way that we are aware of our calling and are ready to say “Here I am, send me”.  Finally, there may come a time when we are unable to serve mentally or physically.  However, we do not lose our value in the family of God because we are still God’s child, our body is still His temple, and our soul is still vital.  While it may be incredibly difficult to accept, at that point, our task may simply be to humble ourselves and allow others to care for us…giving them the opportunity.

While our motivation to serve should never be to receive personal gain, we are promised several benefits for our service.  First, as we obediently serve our God, we draw closer to Him, our relationship with Him becomes stronger and we mature in our faith.  Second, Isaiah 58:10 tell us:   “And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.”  Not only do we brighten the world for those whom we help, but our world becomes a brighter place as well.  And finally, we are promised our reward in heaven.  While any valuable assets that we may have amassed from the work that we do in this life will be given to another in the day of our death, the rewards or the wealth that we have accumulated as a result of our service to our Savior in this life, will be given to us when we enter eternity.  When we diligently serve with a fervent spirit, we will be blessed in many ways.

Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; considering what great things he has done for you.

Will