"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.." 1 Peter 4:10
Here's some more serving verses to prayerfully meditate upon on (click here).
There is great joy in Jesus and in serving people as he leads you to. In fact, there’s more joy in serving him and others than there is in being served by others.
"The greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11
Jesus enjoyed serving sinners like me. Like us. Sure he did. We can too.. in him.
He (your heavenly Father) sees it all -- our works of service.
None of us can get into his Kingdom by earning or by any works, but after we’re in we can work well. Don’t really want mine burned up like worthless chaff.
In Christ.. the Father guides by His Spirit. He helps us and empowers in his service. He is so fair, understanding compassionate, and pleased with your helping of others in his will, and he will reward you for obedience. But the selfish, bull-headed, stubborn and prideful know-it-all folk will end up with their own rewards so to speak and ain’t gunna be stoked on em.
God ain’t the type to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name ..and towards his Son’s name (Jesus, the only way in, and provision that he’s given for our sin issue).
“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.” Hebrews 6:10
“Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender..”
Proverbs 19:17
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward."
Matthew 10:42
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.“
Hebrews 13:16
1. What does “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” mean in Joshua 24:15?
What does that really mean for me?
2. Why is there liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?
What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 3:17?
3. What is the joy of the Lord?
How can I truly experience the joy of the Lord in my Christian life?
4. Why is serving God important?
What does it mean to serve God? Are we really supposed to be God’s servants?
5. Should a Christian join a labor union?
Are trade labor unions unbiblical? Is organized labor anti-Christian? Some bosses are mean and harsh, and others are decent and kind-hearted. Love always protects. Should we believers seek protection from cruelty via a labor union?
6. What are ways I could serve others in the world, or be serving in the church?
What different service opportunities are there in the church?
7. How can we “enter into His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4)?
What is the practical meaning for us in Psalm 100:4?
8. What does the Bible say about a Christian’s responsibility?
What does the Bible say about being responsible for our actions and decisions?
9. Why should I want to serve God?
What does it mean to serve God? Does serving God mean being God’s slave?
10. What does the Bible say about a good work ethic?
What is a Christian work ethic to be like?
11. What is so called ministry idolatry?
It’s simply idolatry. Yup. There sadly still seems to be so many different types of idolatry in our world today.
How can ministry and.. or Christian service become an idol?
12. What does it mean to hold fast (Deuteronomy 10:20)?
What does it mean to hold fast? What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 10:20?
13. How can we store up treasures in heaven?
How can we store up treasures in heaven? What does it mean to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven?
“'Put the needs of others first. Serve others.’ And Jesus said, ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’” Mark 10:45 nkjv
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.“ Mark 10:45
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that older adults who volunteer at least 200 hours a year decrease their risk of hypertension by a whopping 40 percent. And other studies have shown that those that help others live longer.
We are to put the biblical worshiping of, and listening to, and relationship-building with God ahead of working for him, but service does have it’s place in the Christian walk. Remember Mary and her sis Martha? Mary was commended, but a good labor of love will have it’s place.
Worship is a JOY. It’s our first ministry so to speak.. unto Him.
And then on the horizontal doing what God wants for other people right there in his will.. that hard smart work under Christ’s Lordship.. can be such a huge joy.
If only we could discover the joy of serving others. Conventional wisdom says, “Everyone should serve me. I’m entitled. You owe me. Take care of me. I don’t want to work. I don’t want to apply myself. I just want everything to come my way.”
Work or ministry can become an idol, but we’re confident of better things for you as you serve.
Are you married.. well, serving your spouse is your second priority service (and I mean marriage to one of the opposite gender of course).
Many people who are in what we might call professional full time ministry are often considered sort of the elite in Christianity: “Hey, they are the ones really serving God. I’m just like out here in the regular old dog eat dog workforce. How could I bring glory to God like they do?”
Oh contraire. Oh yes, YES you can glorify the Lord in what is often called lay ministry. Effective ministry with the right heart and motives is considered effective ministry by the Lord.
Know God well, seek him in his word well, make him and his Gospel well known. Yes, I challenge you. Use your Bible as you serve -- too many for get the Book of books.
Learn to serve him and others well. Serve in some practical way, shape, or form that aids a life or lives. Pray well, it beats saying your prayers well.
Point to Jesus with all your serving.
How many of Jesus’ original disciples in the gospel accounts and through the book of Acts were professional ministers? The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. He received some helpful gifts, but he also had a so called side-hustle to support himself much of the time. He never wanted to be a burden to others as he gave out the best Message of all. Not at all slighting full time paid ministers, I am glad for and thank many of them. We want to minister to them as well, because they need it at times. Sheep can bite hard, there’s lots of church-hurt out there, and some shepherds sadly can bite back or real hard too.
My number one priority is to know and serve Jesus. It’s to spend time with him and to bring glory to His name.
And my number two priority is to be a good husband, a good dad (my three sons are all grown up), and now to be a good grandfather to their kids if I am allowed to be.
By the way, that comes even before your “ministry at the church, Mr. Pastor or Mrs. Church Worker.” It’s God first, spouse second, children third, Christians at church and others out there in the world next.
To walk wisely, we need to keep our priorities in order day in and day out. .Every Christian is a full time minister, on the clock at work or off the clock. We are called to Jesus primarily.
Yes, we are called to the Lord and then to do something good for God’s glory as he leads each of us. In his letter to the Romans, Paul called himself “a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” (1:1 NKJV).
Every Christian can daily, prayerfully walk circumspectly and bring glory to God. We live for Christ, not for work or anything else primarily.
Come to Jesus today, be ministered to by him, and then serve him every day. Look to him, go back for the details of how he wants you to rest and serve and wisely apply the word. No worries, he won’t quit meeting your needs.
