HotSermons
educate equip enable
Not many people seem to want to serve these days. Unless, of course, you're in business, in which case serving is an essential part of the commercial world. Why? Because without serving you don't get paid.
But serving is at the core of the Christian experience. It is one of the core values of the faith.
So why is it so important? Are there any guidelines in the Bible about serving?
Mat 20:27-28 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave; (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
One reason serving is important is that Jesus was a servant and it is our goal to be like Him.
Also, Jesus' words here show us that heavenly rewards will be based on our service for God.
Phil 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Humility in service is essential as this is the kind of service that Jesus exemplified.
Col 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
God wants our service to be wholehearted.
Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Our service for God should be single-minded; it is not possible to serve God acceptably if our loyalties are divided.
Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Serving should be motivated by love.
Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
The three qualities mentioned here to serve God acceptably are grace, reverence and godly fear.
Grace is essential as none of our works is acceptable if done through self-effort.
Reverence and godly fear are closely related and help to keep our hearts right before God.
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
No matter how menial an area of service may seem, all service for God is essentially a spiritual activity.
2 Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Service for God needs to be with a pure conscience, cleansed from dead works.
Rom 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
This verse contrasts two kinds of service.
One is motivated by the Holy Spirit and characterised by newness; the other is motivated by the Law (the letter) and is powered by the self-effort of the old sinful nature.
1 Thess 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Christian service primarily involves serving God.
Rom 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
We are called to serve the church.
1 Cor 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
Christians are meant to serve all without discrimination.
If you like these Topical Bible Studies, don't forget to check out our Expository Bible Studies too.