SERVING GOD AND OTHERS

“We are all worms.  But I do believe that I am a glow worm.”  Winston Churchill

What do you think Winston Churchill means by this statement? 

How can we serve God and serve others if we think too much of ourselves?

Our model for servanthood is Jesus of course.  One of the first steps is to serve those in need.  For those with experience in serving, you know it’s more rewarding to give than to receive.

Another step is to do it secretly.  This is the toughest part because an innate human desire is to really want recognition. As Pastor Lawrence pointed out in Sunday’s sermon, we can read in Matthew 20:28 that Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

So, how do we enter a life of servanthood?  A good start is to embrace the ministry of the mundane. Doing the little things at home that show that your family members are important to you.  Many times, we take the everyday lives of our children and spouses for granted. But whenever there is a life-threatening event that happens to one of those loved ones, our perspective changes.  Schedule a day to be available to do whatever the family wants, without a personal agenda to do anything.  The goal of the day is simply to serve.  Nobody is too good to perform even the lowliest task.

Another step we can take toward servanthood is the ministry of being interrupted.  Being available to talk to those in need, to pray with and for those in need, and to make the effort to do for those in need.

Then there is the ministry of holding our tongue.  Lots of people get into trouble with this one.  James 3:6 says that the tongue is set on fire by hell.  

He says that it must be an intentional decision of each individual to keep from saying much that occurs to him or her.

Whether we are glow worms or just ordinary ones, we should be following the example of Jesus, serving others and therefore serving God.