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Week 6 -
October 15th thru October 21st
Service: A Lifestyle
Devotional 6.1
Wisdom to Serve
1 Kings 3:4-15
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to
distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great
people of yours?” (v. 9)
People
in leadership and authority often have a peculiar and longstanding habit of
using old sayings or proverbial phrases to impress a point on those around
them. In past years, one such saying was commonly used to refer to a
person quite perceptive as a person who was as “wise as Solomon”. I really
don’t know if it originated from this Bible passage, but it certainly
applies.
Early
in his reign as king of Israel, Solomon was worshiping the Lord, and in that
moment, God gave him a great opportunity. He told Solomon to “Ask for
whatever you want me to give you.” (v. 5) Of all that Solomon could have
sought, in verse 9 he longed for the wisdom that only God could give.
One of
the great characteristics of service and servanthood is wisdom, to be
discerning in serving.
One of
the great temptations and dangers in service is to perceive what someone’s
need might be by our own ability and then respond to that. In reality we’re
responding to our desire instead of God’s leading. God teaches us to seek
His direction and guidance, and thus serve in His way.
Solomon’s experience teaches us some valuable lessons about service and
wisdom.
God
gives the opportunities of service and ministry. When we worship Him
consistently, He speaks clearly so that we know it is His voice. He will
lead us in His paths as His people. Therefore to be a servant, we must walk
with Him daily, by studying His word and relating to Him in prayer. Many
people would also add serve as part of the walking with Him, and although we
do walk with Him in service, for me it is more a fruit of the walking.
When
given the opportunity, seek God’s insight on a matter, which is wisdom and
discernment. The best service comes in the light of God’s leadership. Then
it is Holy Spirit directed and empowered. In that way, human pride is not a
deterring factor. Otherwise we might just be doing “good” and not God’s
willed “best”.
This
kind of wisdom influenced service gives God all the glory and adoration. It
honors him and helps uplift others. It enables us, as has been written
before, to not seek God’s blessing on what we’re doing or serving, but seek
to do and serve in what He is blessing.
That
kind of service requires wisdom from God but it also praises Him.
***
Service: A
Lifestyle
Devotional
6.2
Not Even a “Thank You”
“Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when
he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’?
8“But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and
properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward
you may eat and drink’? 9“He does not thank the slave because he
did the things which were commanded, does he? 10“So you too,
when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy
slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ “ Luke
17:7-10
With
the increase in workload brought on by the merger, combined with an
understaffed office, I was experiencing the most difficult time of my career
as an accountant. Some areas that I inherited were more than a year behind
in their reporting and the home office was getting a bit concerned. The
current work coming in was more than I could handle so the thought of
catching up was elusive. I had not created this problem but was being
called on to head up the fix.
I
interpreted each call from the home office to find out the current status of
things as a growing frustration on their part at a perceived ineptness for
me to handle the situation. I sensed that the positive strides that I was
making were being overshadowed by the mountain of things left undone. My
pride was hurt…I felt that my work was not appreciated and that my name was
placed on the “He’s a treasurer?!?” list. There was not a “thank you” or a
“way to go”. All I heard was “When are you going to finish? This is really
important.”
Then
one day in my Bible reading, I happened upon this teaching of Jesus in
Luke. On the heels of a discussion about offending a brother, being
offended, and forgiveness, Jesus asks a round of rhetorical questions to His
listeners. (Luke 17:7-9)
Jesus
asks us to put ourselves in the place of the master of a common servant.
Would we thank our servant for simply fulfilling his duties? Probably not.
In the same sense, why should we expect any attention or accolades for
simply doing the task that our Master has assigned to us?
My hurt pride turned into a sense of conviction over focusing on myself
instead of on the Master. When I took my focus off of me, I also began to
look at the entire situation differently. I began to hear the words of
encouragement that were coming from the folks at the home office…the words
that had previously been hidden
behind my pride. I had to re-evaluate the “why” of what I was doing. Was
it to gain approval from men? Was it to provide me with a sense of
purpose? Was it to prove that I was capable of handling the situations that
come my way? Or was it in loving service to my Master? (Luke 17:10)
Now as I carry out my duties that come about in the course of the position
to which God has called me, I try to always “do it heartily, as to the Lord
and not men” [Col. 3:23], looking forward to the day that I
will hear, “Well done, good servant” [Luke 19:17]. The
eternal blessings of serving the King will far outlast the temporary praise
of man. No longer do I seek a “thank you” from those around me, but rather
relish in the joy of being in the Master’s presence.
***
Service: A
Lifestyle
Devotional
6.3
Love and Serve
“A
new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another.” John 13:34-35
“Be
dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for
their master to return so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately
open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds
them watching when he comes. That servant who knows his master’s will and
does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with
many blows . . . From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will
be asked.” Luke 12:35-37, 47-48
Service
IS a lifestyle for our church. So many special people serve in so many ways
- worship leaders and office staff, teachers, choir and musicians, deacons,
custodians, volunteers - ALL helping and serving in both large and small
things. Their willingness to serve comes through their consistent, daily
walk with God.
Jesus
set the example of loving and serving. He has commanded us to do the same.
Our
busy lives often rob us of seeking ways to serve others. Each day we must
ask God for his leadership in our service. We then must watch and look for
opportunities to be a blessing in the lives of others whereby we will be
blessed. “The measure of blessing you will receive will be determined by the
measure you give toward others.” (Charles Stanley)
What do
we do? If we are not the ones gifted to teach or preach or write or speak,
what do we do? In Acts 9:6, Jesus told Saul “Get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” We’re assured in
Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you.”
Dan
Schaeffer writes, “When we forget who we serve, we lose sight of why we
serve and we end up serving ourselves. If we desire to glorify God alone, He
must be the one to define our service.” For myself, it may be a visit to a
shut-in, a bite of food shared with another, a brief phone call to encourage
someone or maybe just a smile and greeting to one that passes me on my
journey. Simple gestures of friendship not only fill needs in our
family/church family, but this love also reaches the unchurched and unsaved
by example if not by word. Neighbors, co-workers, contact with others
throughout our day provides opportunities to share Jesus. We must be
“watching”. God wants our love, our hearts, our service. Nothing is too
small.
For
some of us our eyes grow dim, but service to our Lord and seeking His face
provides us a bright and clear vision. As I walk the path each day, I
realize more days are past me than before me. But for however long I am
here, I will seek to serve the One who purchased my soul with His blood in
whatever strength I have left.
“To
help you through the most trying day listen closely and you’ll hear Him
reminding you, praise me in spite of difficulties. Praise me and when you
give God the glory, He will give you peace and joy in return.” Anita
Danhihue
Do you
think God will ask us about our service?
For your Church, Heavenly Father, I thank you. Let the filling of your Holy
Spirit within this church begin in me. Keep me, keep your church growing
spiritually that we may live according to your will and growing in faith.
Father, help each of us to move out of our comfort zone and into a walk with
you with eyes open to see the needs of others and a loving heart to minister
to those needs. YOU are our reward! In Jesus precious name. Amen.
***
Service: A
Lifestyle
Devotional
6.4
Hide God’s Word in My
Heart
“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Psalm 119:11
When I
was a Junior in Sunday School, I began to memorize the scripture printed in
our quarterlies. This was easy for me, and I enjoyed the attention I
received when I could recite long passages. When I went through a period of
being a rebellious teenager, I tried to forget the scriptures which I had
hid in my heart. I would talk back to God and say things like, “Why do I
have to be special?
Why
can’t I be like my friends? I just want to have fun like everybody else!”
But deep inside, like the old spiritual, “I know the Lord has laid his hand
on me” words from God brought me to conviction and put me on the path that
God wanted me to follow. I became more and more interested in studying the
Bible and teaching others. I do not know as much as I want to; I am a
student of scripture as well as a teacher, but I feel that studying and
teaching the Bible is the talent that God has given me and the way that he
wants me to serve him.
Questions:
What
are some ways to approach learning the scriptures?
What
are some situations in which a knowledge of scripture might be useful?
Prayer
Challenge:
Lord, help me to value your word and want to share it with others. Amen
***
Service: A
Lifestyle
Devotional
6.5
Why Serve God
“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows
that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day
has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6: 32-34 (Key verse
33)
To seek
God first means to fill your thoughts with His desires, to serve and obey
Him in everything. We are not to let people, goals and other desires compete
with God for priority. God needs to be first place in our lives.
As a
teen growing up in the church, I was challenged by my teachers to put God
first in my life. It was sometime later, I was given the opportunity to
serve in my church by singing in the adult choir when I was only 16 years of
age. This gave me the understanding of what this verse really meant.
I went
to college where I met my future wife. During the times we spent together,
we discussed many things on which we agreed including the fact that Matthew
6:33 was our favorite verse and had been throughout our growing-up years. We
promised each other to make Christ the center of our home.
Our
home did become the center of our service to God as we applied this verse.
Our home became a place of service as we used it to minister to people in
the church and neighborhood. Each thing we did brought us to a closer
relationship with God and each other.
God has
a place of service for you. In each experience there is created an
atmosphere to grow in your relationship with God. You will then become more
mature as a Christian. As you serve you will mature and as you mature, the
more you will want to serve. Service will then become a lifestyle.
Dear God: Give me the heart of service as I put
You first place in my life.
Amen |
