Written by Anna Bourdess
While this world will tell you to “Do what makes you happy.”, this philosophy will never bring you true joy. When we only serve ourselves, we rob ourselves of the fulfillment that comes from service to God and to others.
Have you ever noticed that the most selfish people are typically the most discontented and irritable? That’s because when we ignore God’s way and choose our own, we’ll always be left with a void.
We live in a society with a “self” culture. Phrases such as self care, self love, self worth, and so many more are thrown around like requirements for a joyful life. When in reality, as Christians our value is found through Christ and the work He is doing through us.
There are many verses given on service, such as:
Matthew 25:40
Luke 6:38
Colossians 3:23
Romans 12:1-13
As well as many more we could continue to list.
The Lord knows what will satisfy the human soul, after all, He created it. If you truly want to live in the peace and joy of The Lord, offer your life up in service to Him. This begins with salvation of course. After that, look for ways to serve others. This will always begin in our homes. If you can’t joyfully serve those in your life that matter most to you and that you see every day then you will never go out of your way to serve anyone outside of your home.
Service looks different for everyone. We all have gifts and special talents God designed us to serve with. I urge you to ask Him where your talents will bring Him the most glory. It takes all kinds of service in every area. The easiest way to begin in service is not to wait for someone to come to you and tell you what needs to be done. If it’s obvious there is a need, step in and fill that need. Look in your home, what better ways could you serve your family? Have you asked your spouse if there are any ways you could better meet a need they may have or if you’re missing a need? How about at church? If you run out of toilet paper in the bathroom at church, don’t go tell someone that it’s out. Go find some and put it in there yourself. If you see trash, pick it up. When it comes down to it, if you truly desire to serve, you’ll find ways to serve.
****disclaimer****
I know that we must take care of our health (physical and mental) to be able to offer ourselves in service to others. I believe those principles are also found in The Bible, instructing us to care for the body that we’ve been given, properly. No, you can’t pour from an empty cup, but make sure you’re filling your cup up at the Savior’s feet.
