Greatness is in Service

When I was growing up in church to to be a really good Christian meant that you went to church all the time – you went Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday night and even Monday night visitation. I was in such a family – we went all the time. Because we went to church every time the doors were open, I thought that I was a good Christian – that I was growing in my faith. This type of discipleship – this type of “greatness” in the kingdom confuses busyness with growth. I was not growing in my relationship with Christ, of which I became painfully aware in my teenage years.

Also, when I grew up I tried to learn as much as possible about the Bible in order to grow in my relationship with Christ. I thought that the more I knew the Bible, the more biblical facts that I learned then the better Christian I became. I was amazingly good at memorizing facts about God without persuing a relationship with him.

We have equated biblical knowledge with spiritual growth often to the detriment of actually doing anything with the truths of the gospel.

In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus explains that greatness in his kingdom is service. Serving others. Unfortunately, in our culture we often view or understand service as “serve us.” In fact, this can be seen through the explosion of the service industry in the last 50 years in America.

This mindset has pervaded American culture – you can now have people who for money will mow your yard, clean your clothes, prepare your food – all of these are fine but unfortunately we now view the school system as though they have the responsibility to educate my child (guess what you are equally responsible) and the church has the responsibility to disciple you or your kids (guess what it is your responsibility!)

When service is understood as serve me we start to view people as commodities rather than a human being – we view others as what kind of benefit do they provide for me.

Christians do not have this luxury. We are called to serve others. For us to grow in our relationship with Christ we must be active in serving others.

Fortunately, God provides us with the tools for service. Some of these tools might surprise you.

2 Tim 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The scriptures do not exist just for us to learn facts about God. They exist to teach, rebuke and transform us, but not for our own sake. The scriptures exist to equip us for good works – for acts of service.

Too often, we study the Bible for what it can do for us. How it can help us without ever realizing that one of the primary purposes of the scripture is to equip us to serve others.

Eph 4:11-12 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service”

Pastors, evangelists, teachers, – they do not exist just to meet the needs of church members. We exist to prepare God’s for works of service – to serve others.

What about other Christians?

Heb 10:24 says, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” The body of Christ – fellow Christians, exist to encourage you to do good deeds.

Spiritual Gifts are not for you but to help you serve others.

According to 1 Peter 4:10, ”Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” Our spiritual gifts are not for ourselves, but to serve others.

Are you detecting a pattern?

Money too is given to us for good works.

In 1 Tim 6:17-19 Paul encourages Timothy to “Command those who are rich in this present world…to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Here’s the catch – I don’t think good works or acts of service are for their own sake – something I feel compelled to be absolutely clear about. Service does not exist for service sake, but to be salt, light and leaven in the community.

The beautiful thing about service is that it gives us an opportunity to share the gospel. After all, we are always to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. When you serve others, it will open doors – people will ask questions. Being nice and serving or helping others has become a bit of a novelty in our culture.

Which brings us to the last and probably most amazing gift that God has given us for service - grace. Yes, even grace has been given to us for good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 are popular, “for it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” But less popular is Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Grace has been given to prepare us for good works – for acts of service – for us to become great in the kingdom of God is to serve others.

How does your church define greatness? Compare this to how Jesus Christ defines greatness. Do you equip your church members to serve others and provide opportunities for them to serve outside the walls of your church? What steps does your church need to take to define greatness in the same manner as Christ?