SERVE INTENTIONALLY
Matthew Griffin
Today’s Scripture: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13, NIV
Theme: Be intentional; serve others during “your” free time.
THINK ABOUT IT
How many times do you wake up on Saturday morning excited about one thing and one thing only: “Yes! I don’t have to do anything for the next two days!” The last thing we think about is, “How can I use my time to serve, FOR FREE?” For so long, we have been conditioned to spend our weekends and afternoons doing things for our own entertainment or rest. After all, it is our free time, so shouldn’t we spend it doing what we want to do? Let’s look deeper into this and see what the Bible says:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13, NIV). Paul tells us that we are free! But how we look at freedom today is different than the way Paul looked at freedom. When we have some free time, we usually tend to spend it on ourselves.
CHANGE THE MINDSET
Paul told us, while speaking to the church in Philippians, to value others MORE than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). When speaking to the Romans, he said not to be like society around us, but to allow our minds to be renewed (Romans 12:2). The society we live in tells us to build ourselves up. Everything we see tells us to strive for that perfect vacation, buy that expensive car, go out and have fun doing what we want to do. But we are instructed to let our minds be renewed and begin to think like Jesus did. Jesus told us that He did not come to be served, but to serve. If the creator of Heaven and Earth humbled Himself enough to serve others, then we should as well.
HOW? WHEN? WHERE?
Many times, we don’t feel the need to serve because we aren’t aware of the numerous areas or people around us that need our help. Start with your church. There are tons of service areas that your church needs help with on campus, opportunities ranging from production, children’s ministries, welcoming, logistics areas, maintenance, and many more. In addition to that, there are community outreach missions every week that the church could use dozens more of us to help them with.
The internet today has made it extremely easy for us to find opportunities. All around us, there are organizations that deal with clothing, housing, and feeding people in need. Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40b, NIV). How cool is that?
Make It Personal: Is there an area in which you have been nudged to serve, but you haven’t yet taken that step? I want to encourage you to take that step and find out what God is wanting to do with you in that area. You don’t know where to serve? That’s ok! Just get involved in your church or community and begin to discover your talents in areas that are needed. Take some time this week to pray and ask God to reveal to you what your next step in serving is.
Pray: God, You alone are the Director of my life. Thank You for all that You have given me, whether that be material things or time. Father, reveal to me this week how and where to use these things to serve those around me, as I look to You, Jesus, as the perfect example of how I should live. Amen.
Read: Matthew 25:40-45; Galatians 5:13-25
Weekly Memory Verse: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3, ESV