Last time we considered how we show love for the world through outreach – through actively and personally extending ourselves to those around us and around the world with the Good News and love of Jesus Christ. We looked at outreach in terms of evangelism. Today I want us to look at outreach in terms of service.As we consider this, I want to suggest that We are called to serve our neighbors through self-giving love, thereby bringing joy to ourselves and glory to God.
“WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE…” We simply have to look at 2 statements about Jesus to recognize this.
- Philippians 2:5-11. Our attitude should be the same as Jesus. What did Jesus do? He made Himself nothing. He became a servant and gave Himself for us. And we are to have the same mindset. Just above this passage we read: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We need a mindset to serve.
- Matthew 20:25-28. The way of the world is arrogance and one-upmanship. The way of Jesus is humility and servanthood. Jesus said, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” For our example is Jesus Himself who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If we call ourselves Christians then we must follow Christ and serve others.
But WHO ARE WE CALLED TO SERVE? The apostle Paul helps us with this when he writes in Galatians 5:13-14, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” We have been set free to serve our neighbor. But we may ask: “Who is our neighbor?” Jesus was asked that once. This was His response - the parable of the Good Samaritan. Look at Luke 10:30-37.
- What is the message of that parable? Haddon Robinson, once told the story of how his son was taught the parable one day in Sunday School. His son told him the whole story and when he had finished, Robinson asked his son, “Now, what was that story all about? What does it mean? His son paused for a moment and then said “The story of the Good Samaritan means – whenever I’m in trouble you’ve got to help me!” That’s a pretty good understanding of the story – a simple recognition that human need requires human assistance. Robinson, in his own sermon on the parable, summarizes it this way: “Your neighbor is anyone whose need you see and you're in a position to meet.”
- You’re neighbor is anyone. Generally speaking every human being alive is your neighbor. Every person should be an object of our concern. However, we are not able to help everyone. The problems of the world are overwhelming and can be paralyzing. And so specifically speaking, your neighbor is anyone whose need you’re in a position to meet. How do we deal with the problems of the world? By dealing with the person in front of us whose need we see and whose need we’re in a position to meet. Edward Everett Hale once wrote, “I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.” Who are we called to serve? Our neighbor - anyone whose need you see and you're in a position to meet.
So, we are called to serve our neighbors, but HOW? By following Jesus’ example of self-giving love. Read John 13:1-17. Foot washing was a menial task – so low that it was listed among tasks that an Israelite servant should not have to do. And yet as the supper commenced and no one had their feet washed (evidently no one was willing to wash the feet of their peers), Jesus got up took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. This was a sign of a servant. Jesus, in an incredible act of humility, thus identified Himself as a slave. And He did this, we are told, to show “the full extent of his love.” Knowing who He was and what was about to happen to Him, Jesus still focused on His disciples, serving them in love.
This foot washing illustrated Jesus’ entire ministry and mission and so it must illustrate ours. Jesus said, “Do you understand what I have done for you? ... You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Jesus has given us an example to follow, the example of self-giving love.
But all this talk about being a servant is not very palatable to our culture. Words like service, submission, selflessness, and sacrifice are not exactly popular terms. Even among Christians, service is often seen as a form of drudgery – something we’re guilted into doing. And so why in the statement I offered would I say that, “We are called to serve our neighbors through self-giving love, THEREBY BRINGING JOY TO OURSELVES…”? Because though our culture mistakenly believes that happiness is found in focusing on oneself, joy is found in extending oneself for others. That is why the Gospel appears upside-down to our culture. Jesus said, “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” In order to find ourselves, we must give up ourselves. Joy is found in giving yourself away. Do you want to experience growth as a Christian? Do you want to experience joy and satisfaction? Then learn to serve.
We are called to serve our neighbors through self-giving love, thereby bringing joy to ourselves AND GLORY TO GOD. But how does serving one’s neighbors glorify God? We often see work or service as drudgery, but it is actually worship. Both Hebrew and Greek have words meaning both work/service and worship. Why is that? Because worship is not simply a cerebral activity nor is it merely a vocal activity. Worship is a life activity. As Christians, our lives are to be worship. Therefore, when we serve one another and others, we worship God. We bring glory to God. That is why Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Self-giving love glorifies God because it reflects God’s character to the world. And self giving love brings joy because we were made to reflect God’s character to the world.
Brothers and sisters, We are called to serve our neighbors through self-giving love, thereby bringing joy to ourselves and glory to God. Through service we reach out to the world with the Good News and love of Jesus Christ. We exemplify the Good News for them. Through service we build each other up as well. Without service the mission of the Church cannot be accomplished, for we cannot show love for God or one another or the world unless we are willing to serve. And so are you willing to serve? Are you willing to give of yourself?
We are called to serve. For serving is a vehicle through which the mission of the Church is accomplished.
Jeff Mugford tells a powerful story:
He saw people love each other, and he saw that love made strenuous demands on the lovers. He saw that love required sacrifice and self-denial. He saw that love produced arguments, jealousy, and sorrow. He decided that love cost too much. He decided not to diminish his life with love.
He saw people strive for distant and hazy goals. He saw men strive for success and women strive for high ideals. He saw that the striving was often mixed with disappointment. He saw strong and committed men fail, and he saw weak, undeserving men succeed. He saw that striving sometimes forced people into pettiness and greed. He decided that it cost too much. He decided not to soil his life with striving.
He saw people serving others. He saw men give money to the poor and helpless. He saw that the more they served, the faster the need grew. He saw ungrateful receivers turn on their serving friends. He decided not to soil his life with serving.
When he died, he walked up to God and presented his life to him—undiminished, unmarred, unsoiled. The man was clean and untouched by the filth of the world, and he presented himself to God proudly saying, “Here is my life!” And God said, “…What life?”
(Jeff Mugford, Youth Specialties: Hot Illustrations)
May God not say that to us. May we not waste our lives in selfishness, but learn to serve – to serve our neighbor with self-giving love, thereby bringing joy to ourselves and glory to God. And may we heed the call of God who says, “I will make you a light for the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
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