Some of you have made your family resolutions that may include spending more time together, or eating healthier. One resolution you also may have made was to volunteer more in 2016. But what is the purpose of serving others? Is it to help others who are in tough circumstances, follow God’s desires for us, help us to feel like we are doing a bit of good in this world?
I like to think the purpose of serving others is a little bit of all of those all rolled into one.
Serve to help others
Ephesians 4:28: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Serve for God
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Serve for Ourselves
Isaiah 58:10 ESV: “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
God’s word is clear that we are to consider others often before ourselves, though with human flesh it is hard for us not to think of our needs first.
Whether it’s one of your family’s New Year’s Resolutions or hasn’t been on your mind until today, I pray that you will consider asking God to show you those in need of your help, ways that you can serve the community around you, and also ways you can impact your family for the good of God’s Kingdom.
Here are some small ways your entire family can get involved in serving:
– Volunteer at an animal shelter
– Pray for a stranger
– Tell someone in your family “I love you because _______”
– Help tidy up your church
– Pack care bags for fire and police to hand out to children at emergency scenes
– Write a letter to a friend
– Volunteer at your school
– Carry a few snacks around in your car if you see someone in need of something to eat
– Send a care package to someone serving overseas in the military
– Help someone having a hard time crossing the street
– Give a smile to someone who may need it
– Donate toys to children who need them
– Participate in fundraising opportunities that will help local charities
– Sponsor a child from another country
God calls us to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10), serve fellow christians (Galatians 6:10), and even to serve our enemies (Luke 6:35), but it’s our choice as to how we will choose to serve.
How about your and your family? WHO will you serve, HOW will you serve, but most importantly WHY will you serve???
We would love to hear your thoughts, feel free to leave a comment to others, who knows you could inspire someone!