Pericles said, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
The words “at your service” or “I’m happy to serve you” are often seen at places of business. Whether or not they have a service job, some are naturally inclined to serve others and may not even give it a thought. But for those who want to follow Jesus, we must consider a life of service.
Paul wrote of Jesus, “Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).
If anyone had the right to be served, it was Jesus. He was God. Yet, never once did He demand to be served. He dwelt among people and let humanity see Him, touch Him, laugh with Him, and cry with Him. He showed what it meant to serve and love people. He gave His life to redeem ours.
Living a life of service is easier than we might imagine. Not all acts of service must be huge, obvious acts. Most service acts that really mean something to another person are often the little things in life. Seeing someone in need and asking how you can help is the best way to start serving. Some acts of service may not be known to anyone but God because even the people we are serving may not notice.
Regardless of whether we are a waitress or the CEO of a large company, we’ll be happier and more fulfilled if our focus is on serving instead of being served.
Look for ways to serve those around you, and see what happens. The world always needs more kindness.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Sarah Hurlburt is a small-town farm girl who has a passion for challenging herself and others to live lives of purity and simplicity. She gets her inspiration from her gorgeous farm nestled in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania. Sarah has written skits, plays, poems, and curriculum for children’s programs as well as Bible study guides and children’s books. She currently writes for The Valley Newspaper in her quaint hometown, where you will often hear the clip clop of horses’ hooves as you pass a Pennsylvania Dutch buggy. As a wife and mother of three teenagers, Sarah has been taught great lessons in love, forgiveness, and acceptance by the school of life. She finds her favorite cathedrals are the woods, which are full of tall pines, maples, and calming streams. She considers a day successful with something as simple as seeing a blue butterfly flutter by as the sun glides off its delicate wings.