SERVING GOD

DEFINITION

Serving God means making him real in the things, and in the different ways, we
conduct ourselves. While it is true that we are saved by faith and not by works, so
that no one can boast, as what the Apostle Paul says, true faith cannot help but
translate itself into good action.

To serve God is to love him with all that we are, obeying, and enjoying him
forever.
Serving God is an attitude of the heart, not a specific work of the hands or
head. (1 Sam. 15:22) But Samuel replied:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the
LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). What
does that mean?

 It means to do what he says in a way that makes him look supremely

valuable in himself.
 It means to submit to him in a way that makes him look thrilling.

There are ways to submit to God that only make him look threatening, not thrilling.
There are ways to do what he says that only call attention to the fact that he is an
authority, not a treasure.

That kind of service is not the service God commands.

What’s the difference?

The difference is that God has told us not to serve him as though he needed
anything.

“Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself

gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:25).

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

“God is seen as glorious when all our serving is moment-by-moment receiving

from God’s supply.”

Both these texts put all the emphasis on God’s giving to us when we serve.

So the kind of service that makes God look valuable and thrilling is the kind that
serves God by constantly receiving from God. The key text to describe this is 1
Peter 4:11 —

“Whoever serves, [let it be] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies —
in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

God is seen as glorious when all our serving is moment-by-moment receiving from
God’s supply.

We receive this supply by faith. That is, we trust moment by moment that what we
need, in serving him, he will supply (“life, breath, and everything”). This is the
opposite of being anxious. Such serving is happy. And it makes God look no less
authoritative, but infinitely more desirable. This is the glory he means to have. The
giver gets the glory.

Therefore, “serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.

To serve God, then, is to follow the example of Jesus’ life and earthly ministry to
serve others. It is through service that we can truly express our love for God, for
His creation and for one another. The Scriptures detail what is required to serve in
Jesus’ name — specifically Matthew 25:34–40, where Jesus explains that caring
for the least of our brothers and sisters is what is required to enter the kingdom of
heaven.

Matthew 25:35–40
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I
was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick
and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will
answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or
naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least
of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
In the Catholic tradition we understand service to others as part of the Works of
Mercy, specifically seven Corporal Works of Mercy and seven Spiritual Works of
Mercy.

(Colossians 3:17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of

the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

SUMMARY

Serving God is what we were made to do as his creatures, but our service has been
corrupted by our sin and rebellion which has rendered us unable to please him. An
important part of the gospel is that in Jesus Christ we can begin to serve God again
with the promise of being able to serve him perfectly and forever in the age to
come. This Christian service is our privilege and delight.

THE UBIQUITY OF SERVICE

Today words like serve, serving, and servant are often freighted with negative
overtones because they describe something difficult and undesirable compared
with being in charge and having others serve us. But everyday life involves serving
in all kinds of ways that are so common that it is easy for us to take them for
granted and hardly notice their existence. For instance, we have what are called
service industries and sectors of the economy as well as other service organizations
that provide aid and protection in time of need. In a variety of ways, we are all
called upon to serve one another because it is impossible for someone to live in
isolation from everyone else. This reality raises important questions: Where did the
idea of serving come from? Is it merely a pragmatic necessity or does it point to
something deeper?

FIVE REASONS TO SERVE GOD/ WHY SERVE GOD

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me."

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

How do you serve God? By serving others.

In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40
NIV). When you do something that makes someone else’s life better in some way,
you’re serving God.

Some people serve out of guilt, duty, or pressure. But God wants you to serve out
of gratitude for what he’s done for you. He made you, he saved you, and he’s
taking you to heaven. Gratitude is the best motivator to serve.

Here are five things the Bible says about serving God:

1. Serving is one of your life purposes. Mark 8:35 says, “Only those who
throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will
ever know what it means to really live” (TLB). Until you learn how to serve,
 you’re not really living—you’re just existing. You make a living by what
you get, but you make a life by what you give away.
2. Serving makes you more like Jesus. Matthew 20:28 says, “Even the Son of
Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (NLT). If you don’t learn how to serve others, you will
never grow to spiritual maturity. In fact, you’ll be a spiritual baby your
entire life.
3. Serving is the highest use of your time. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Always
give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord” (NIV). If you want to make an
impact and leave a legacy, the highest use of your time is to serve God by
serving others. Your service to the Lord is never wasted.
4. Serving is the secret to greatness. Matthew 20:26 says, “If you want to be
great, you must be the servant of all the others” (CEV). True greatness
comes from servanthood, not from living for yourself. The greatest leaders
are those who serve the most.
5. Serving will be rewarded in heaven. Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30, “I can
guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up [anything] because of me and the
Good News will certainly receive a hundred times as much” (GW).
Ultimately, your real boss is Jesus. And he will reward you one day for
everything you’ve done for him. That’s a guarantee!

How passionate are you about serving God? Could your enthusiasm use a boost?
God wants you to think differently about serving and to “never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11 NIV).

Here is another great undeniable verse that shows the profitability of serving God,
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their
years in pleasures.

Job 36:11

I want to encourage YOU to get involved in serving God. You may ask,

'SO HOW DO I SERVE GOD?' ALLOW ME TO GIVE YOU

SEVEN WAYS

1. Serve God with your life

2. Serve God in your church
3. Serve God with your talents
4. Serve God with your time
5. Serve God with prayers and fastings
6. Serve God with your money - tithes and offerings
7. Serve God by serving others

You will never be at a loss when you serve God. He has done much for us and he
will do much more for you. I want to challenge you with the words of President
John Kennedy. In 1961 during his Inaugural Address, President Kennedy uttered
these powerful words, 'My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for
you, ask what you can do for your country.'

CONCLUSION

Today, I am asking you, 'My fellow believers, ask not what your God can do for
you, ask what can you do for your God.'
# Start where you are-do anything you can do, and do everything you
can do, until you find something you must do! That something is
probably your spiritual gift.