“We were created for good works that God planned in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Everything in our society teaches us to use our abilities for ourselves – make a lot of money, retire, be comfortable and die. That’s the dream. But deep down inside we know we were made for more than that. We know instinctively that there is a bigger purpose in life. There is a desire to make a difference.
You weren’t created just to consume resources — to eat, breath, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. You were created to add to life on Earth, not just take from it.
We know that Christ came to earth to model this life style, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”(Mark 10:45 NIV).
When we follow Jesus, he empowers us for a life of service. The more we become like Jesus, the more we will serve others.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be GREAT must become a servant.” Mark 10:43 (MSG)
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.
Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.
This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it.
Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.
Having the heart of a servant is to be like Christ.
Your service is essential to the Body of Christ, the church. Each of us has a role to play, and every role is important. There is no small service to God; it all matters.
There are no insignificant ministries or serving opportunities in the church. Some are visible and some are hidden behind the scenes, but all are valuable. Are the hidden parts of your body important? Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest difference.
There is no correlation between size and significance. Every ministry matters because we are all dependent on each other to function.
What happens when one part of your body fails to function? You get sick. The rest of your body suffers. Imagine if your liver decided to start living for itself: “I’m tired! I don’t want to serve the body anymore! I want a year off just to be fed. I’ve got to do what’s best for me! Let some other part take over.”
What would happen? Your body would die. Today thousands of local churches are dying because of believers who are unwilling to serve. They sit on the sidelines as spectators, and the Body suffers.
God calls you to life far beyond anything you could ever imagine. He created YOU for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for you to do. (Ephesians 2:10). Whenever you serve others, you are actually serving God and impacting eternity.
There are three things you can do with your life: You can waste it, you can spend it, or you can invest it. The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will last longer than your time on earth.
Adapted from some of my favorite devotions on service, to find out more about God’s purpose for your life, check out at http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/
Darrell
Upwards Church 