Now maybe you are a child or a youth and you are saying to yourself, "I'm too young to be a servant." Remember the Bible says in 1 Tim 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for others....!" You can be a servant just by being kind and friendly to everyone ...especially the unpopular kids. You can be obedient to your parents and helpful to your teachers. You can tell the cafeteria lady thanks for the meal and greet the custodian. You can pull your elderly neighbor's trash can out to the street on trash pickup day and shovel their driveway when it snows. There are so many ways for you to serve. Just look for them!!
Those of you from 20 - 60 may struggle with the same excuses as me. "I'm just too busy right now ....I'll do that servant stuff when I'm retired and have time." But we know down deep we ought to be in service to others and it is a mistake to put off the blessings God has for us. We need to reach out to our neighbors and co-workers, being especially sensitive to those other people tend to shun. We could offer to baby sit for a single mom so she can get a much needed break. Or take time to visit with an elderly neighbor and offer to get their groceries when it's too cold or windy for them to get out. We could make extra food one night and take a plate to someone who lives alone or better yet, invite them to eat with us. How about offering to help when someone is moving in or out of the office building or neighborhood. When we look for opportunities to serve we will find them and we'll still have time for the things in life that are truly important. Le's not let busyness rob us of blessings.
Those of you who are retired may be thinking, "I've done my bit. It's time for those young folks to do their share." But I checked my concordance and the word "retirement" is not in the Bible. The word "retire" only appears four times and then it is in reference to withdrawing from a city or battle. There is no retirement from God's service. If you feel you don't have the energy, use what energy you do have to serve him and he will give you more!! Don't stop until you hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."
Then there is the oft heard excuse: "My wife takes care of that sort of thing". But servanthood is non-transferable. We are all expected to do our part. And finally the saddest excuse of all, :I give plenty of $$ to the church. I already do my part." If this is you, thank you for giving $$, that is certainly very important. But don't count it as a substitute for servanthood. It will never give you the same joy and satisfaction that humbling yourself and becoming a servant does.
It's like this:
I know that giving money as Christmas gifts is wise and proper and we do it
in our family too for nieces and nephews across the country, and for grandchildren
and grown children. But imagine if your not-yet-grown children came down on
Christmas morning and found nothing under the tree but an envelope with money
in it. I bet there would be disappointment. Even if it was more cash than
you would normally spend on gifts, they would still feel let down. That's
because it is the thoughtfulness and effort you put into shopping for and
selecting just the right gift especially for that child and then taking the
time to wrap it up pretty that demonstrates your love much more than the amount
you spend. As a parent, I seriously doubt that you would eagerly anticipate
your child's reaction or swell with yourself into it. The real pleasure is
missed when you just give money. Yes, stewardship is a key value too, but
giving money alone never brings the kind of joy and satisfaction that comes
with being a servant.
If you have questions about where your service is needed you can always just ask Francie or you can pick up a Volunteer Ministry Opportunities sheet in the foyer and choose from the many volunteer ministries listed there. These ministries are always in need of help and I encourage each of you to be involved in at least one of our church ministries. But be sure you also look for opportunities to serve in your would outside the church...in your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, and the community. What a better place the world would be if everyone took the key value of servanthood more seriously. And if as we serve we always remember Col. 3:17, "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..."
Thank you.
Bonnie Burner
Servanthood Point Leader
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