Serving From Your Heart

Text: I Corinthians 15: 58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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We all have several prominent features on our body that we could probably live without. But it's the hidden parts of our bodies that are indispensable: the heart, brain, lungs etc. The same is true in the body of Christ. Very often it's the services that are going on in the background that make. the biggest difference. In heaven, God is going to openly reward some of His most obscure and unknown servants; people we have never heard of on earth. People who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed sick patients and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways. Knowing this, don't be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted.

Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded. In Matthew 10: 42 Jesus says “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward”. Just like Apostle Paul in Acts 28: 3 when Paul after being ship , wrecked went to gather some wood for a fire to keep everyone warm, he would have been as exhausted as the others after the ordeal; but he did what everyone needed. No task is beneath you when you have servant's heart. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. Little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God, just do the not so great stuff. God will assign you whatever He wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways. “One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to serve. Sometimes you serve upwards to those in authority and sometimes downwards to those In need. Either way you develop a servant's heart when you are willing to do anything needed.

II Timothy 2:1-4

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Galatians 6:9-10

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Servants avail themselves to serve. They don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called upon. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty. If we only serve when it's convenient for us, then we are not real servants. Real servants do what is needed; even when it's inconvenient. Are you available to God anytime? Can He mess up your plans without you becoming resentful? As a servant, you don't get to pick and choose when or where you will serve. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to. If we remind ourselves at the start of each day that we are God's servants, interruptions won't frustrate us as much; for our agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into our lives. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for opportunities to serve.

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Servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment just as the Bible commands us. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice God says the needs of our church family are to be given preference not at the bottom of our to do list. We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long; they pass quickly & sometimes never to return again. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment. Proverbs 3:28 says “Never tell your neighbours to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now”. You can begin by looking for all the small tasks that no one else wants to do. Do little things as if they were great things because God is watching.