Serving refers to the act of providing assistance, help, or support to others. It means fulfilling a need for someone else… it means setting yourself aside– your needs, wants, and desires– to fulfill someone else’s. Serving is done out of love and without expectation.
Serving others is an act of love. Loving others is an act of serving. God calls us to love Him and love others. Jesus shows us that example time and again throughout the Bible.
So why is it then that we sometimes struggle to serve? Why is it so hard to put yourself aside to lift others up?
In this blog, I will share what it means to serve others and why it’s so important.
Living out love
We were born into a world that is full of sin and hate. Greed and ruthlessness to get ahead. But who are we loving when we live that way? Ourselves… is that fulfilling? Does that satisfy?
I don’t believe it does. Have you ever given someone the perfect gift, left an outrageous tip, or just helped someone? Have you taken time to notice their reaction? Have you taken time to notice your reaction?
I actually experienced an act of love a few months ago by a young girl who offered to take my cart back as I tried to wrangle two toddlers into the car at the grocery store. The girl was maybe 10 but saw a need and stepped in without hesitation.
Living out love doesn’t come from material things but from the heart posture when serving. If you serve out of obligation, are you really living out love?
Jesus shows us what it means to serve others
Throughout the New Testament, we see how Jesus serves and loves others. He is the greatest example of what serving looks like.
In fact, He is so intentional about showing by example that he placed himself in the lowest position as a servant and washed His disciples’ feet.
Can you imagine? The King of Kings getting down and washing your nasty feet? He did, and He did it in love and in service.
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then, he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:4-5
Later in the same chapter, Jesus explains why he has done the servant’s work.
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
How beautiful that Jesus has so intentionally shown us examples of what it looks like to love and serve others.
Filling YOUR cup
When you serve others, you are filling yourself. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that volunteers reported higher levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of depression.
On the flip side, if someone is trying to serve you, let them… even if you don’t think you need the help, let them. You are allowing them to experience the beauty of love and service when you allow them to do what God called them to do– serve others.
By serving others, you could experience lower stress levels, an increased sense of purpose, new skills, and so much more. Jesus told us to love others because we can be a light in this world… and by serving others, our light gets a little brighter.
So whether it’s at your church or school or in your community, I promise there are abundant opportunities to serve. And every single opportunity is valuable; no matter how small you think it might be, it matters.
If this inspired you to find ways to serve, click like below and share it with a friend.
And in case you missed my Christmas Eve blog– check it out here.
