When I was at school I always used to love run errands
for teachers… Carrying messages and cleaning the classroom was my pleasure. I
may have been the quietest person around but my heart longed to help my
teachers and they kept asking me to assist them. I was so excited when I got awarded a
certificate in front of the whole school for “helpfulness”.
 |
| (My surname was still "van Tonder" at that time - it was before my dad adopted my brother and I) |
I can see how even today I am still the same.
When I hear something needs to be taken care of I drop what I am doing to take
care of it – no matter what the cost. I know who I am… I love to serve. Give me
the vision and I will run with it!
I think we can sometimes forget to serve one
another in life. Perhaps we think we have become more important than others or
that our function in the workplace or ministry is more valuable than serving
those who work alongside us. Imagine if I told the Worship leader we cannot do
a song in “that” key just because it’s not printed on paper? How does my lack
of service make that person’s task a pleasure!? I would hate to make a name for
myself – “the one who is never willing to go the extra mile” or “the one to
whom it’s always an issue to change some chords”.
I love seeing those I serve happy… especially
when I made their vision come to pass like they imagined in their mind.
I grew up listening to Psalty Kids Praise –
they sang a song on one of their albums and the words went, “If you want to be
great in God’s Kingdom, learn to be a servant of all”. That song still sticks
with me and is a good reminder every now and again when I lose sight of what’s
important… We tend to think those who give the vision and run the team are the important ones but they are also in service... service to Christ!
Jesus was and still is an amazing servant to
us. Every time we open our mouths and ask him for help – He is always there –
never turning his back or giving us attitude because he is tired of answering our
prayers or meeting our needs… His love is pure and because His love is pure –
His service is pure!
Philippians
2:5-7
Amplified Bible
(AMP)
5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble]
mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in
humility:]
6Who, although being essentially one with God and in
the form of God [[a]possessing the fullness of the attributes which
make God God], did not [b]think this equality with God was a thing to be
eagerly grasped [c]or retained,
7But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [d]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a
servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
So let me
encourage you… Do not get weary in doing good – for at the appointed time you
will reap a great harvest – God see’s your efforts and more so your heart –
serve Him with all your might and He will bless you with even more… and if you never get the Praise or Thanks for what you do and it annoys or "hurts" you - perhaps you should take time out to ask yourself if your service is truly "to serve" or to self-promote! Our motives determine our rewards in eternity - not our actions...
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