The Blessedness of Serving
June 12, 2025 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
A church that serves together grows together. Nothing stimulates church health and vitality like serving others together. On the night that he was betrayed, before the last supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. After this shocking action, he says, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Jesus sets the standard for his disciples. We should do just as he has done for us. And he served us by laying down his life for us. Jesus also gives the incentive. He says, “Blessed are you if you do them.” We are blessed if we follow in his footsteps in sacrificially serving others.
Let me highlight some of those blessings.
1. Serving others trains our hearts in humility. Paul says in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Paul explains that humility means that we consider others as more important than ourselves. This humility manifests itself when we look out for the interests of others, when we serve others. It works the other way around as well. When we serve others, our hearts begin to value the other person as significant.
2. Serving others deepens our understanding and appreciation of what Christ has done for us. Jesus says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we follow in his footsteps, we understand the depth of sacrifice required to serve another. No one has given more or sacrificed more than Christ, but when we sacrifice in serving another, we can appreciate a bit more what Christ has done for us.
3. Serving others unites followers of Christ for the sake of the gospel. Paul exhorts the church at Philippi, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). When we seek first our own interests, we begin to view others as obstacles to our desires and we forget the urgency of the gospel. Paul encourages the church at Philippi to set aside their selfish pursuits and disputes (see Phil. 4:2-3) so they can focus outward to others who need the gospel.
4. Serving others brings us into God’s blessed work of redemption. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that God has prepared good works beforehand that we should walk in them. And Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that the watching world will see our good works and give glory to the Father in heaven. God has planned to use us as his instruments to reveal his goodness in this world. Our active service of others can be the means God uses to bring people to faith in Christ.
These are just a few of the blessings of serving others. Our joy is made full. We use the gifts God has given us. We grow in relationship with other believers. We receive opportunity to give testimony to the goodness of Christ. Will we believe Jesus when he says, “Blessed are you if you follow my example of serving others”? Do you know this blessedness? Let’s actively look for opportunities to serve others, not only in the church, but also outside of the church.
