serve Jesus

The Struggle To Serve

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13

Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:18

Yes, the truth slapped me this past week. A friend called me in the middle of the day and asked for help. He was moving to a new place and had a few more items to haul away. He had one person coming to help and preferred to have more. If it was life and death, I would have dropped everything and went. Yet, I spent two hours doing yard work that morning and was tired and still hurting. So I negated the offer.

Afterward, I spent a few minutes talking to myself instead of to the Lord. I tried to justify my response. Instead, there was a small amount of guilt. When I prayed about it, I repented. Then it occurred to me, I have a natural tenancy to refrain from serving others when asked. If the need is within my gifting, no problem. But if it is outside my gifting, I drag my feet. If outside my schedule and priorities for the day, don’t bother me. If it doesn’t fit into my plans for the day, my immediate response is no.

The last time I took one of those spiritual gift tests, do you know what my lowest ranking gift is? Yep, service to others is last on my list. Right above it is compassion. Yet, the Holy Spirit has opened my heart toward people. When people are hurting, I feel their pain and look for ways to help them. But what about this service thing? How is the Holy Spirit working to change my heart when it comes to serving others?

Yes, we are encouraged throughout Scripture to serve one another. We mimic Jesus who came to serve (Luke 22:27). More important, we are reminded when we serve others, we are truly serving Jesus. But why is serving others so difficult at times?

In my case, my natural inclination is to become self-absorbed with my to-do- list. I have been trained to say no if it doesn’t fit into my plans for the day. There are days even the Lord has to hit me on the side of the head to grab my attention.

I recently read around 60% of the human population are naturally inclined to serve others. Yes, there are people whose gifting is to serve others. They find it natural. They are wired to serve others. Then there are people like myself who are not wired to serve others. The Holy Spirit has to do a work in us. In me, HE has begun. The challenge is my carnal desires. I slip into the human condition of a two-year-old. I want what I want. Yet as a mature adult, I recognize such tenancies. So, when those times arise, I need to be more responsive to the people around me. Also more attuned to what the Lord is bringing my way to better serve HIM.

Yes, the truth hurts. But it also opens the door to make one more aware of negative character traits. I want to be more like Jesus. Events such as this brings out where I stand in comparison with HIM. And it is not pretty. But I am thankful for HIS grace. HIS patience. HIS continual pursue of working with me. Less me, more HIM. The work continues.

Yes, service toward others is an expression of one’s love for others. My love bucket still needs a whole lot of work. What about yours?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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