The Principle of Service in Recovery

Rooted in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous & The living word of God.

Introduction:

God- The Creator, Has given each of us gifts to use. Those gifts that He has given you when used will point to His Glory.

Service keeps us growing and keeps us from being religious—

Service helps us stay sober, if for no other reason because as we serve, we see what could happen if we let go because we see the destruction that comes from relapse.

A study led by Dr. Maria Pagano at Case Western Reserve University found that individuals who helped others during treatment were twice as likely to remain abstinent in the year following treatment compared to those who didn’t.

40% of those who helped others stayed sober after a year.

Only 22% of those who did not help others remained sober.

📖 “Helping others appears to be a strong predictor of abstinence and a critical part of the recovery process.” — Dr. Pagano.

Pagano, M. E., Post, S. G., & Johnson, S. M. (2011). Alcoholics Anonymous‑Related Helping and the Helper Therapy Principle. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 29(1), 23–34.

1. God has given us gifts to use.

1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

“Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” (Big Book, p. 77)

Every person has something to offer—time, experience, presence, encouragement.

Recovery is not just about staying sober, but becoming useful again.

Service positions (coffee maker, greeter, chairperson, sponsor) may seem small, but they’re spiritually significant.

The Big Book reminds us that helping others is a divine calling: “Helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery.” (p. 97)

“We freely share what we have been given” (Step 12) because it came freely from God.

As you have heard me say many times, “if God called you too it, He wont let anyone else do it.”

Often time as we serve we rise. I know in my own life except for my call to ministry, I would not have grown to the level that I have, whatever that may be.

Our ISM, in most cases stole our most basic dignity.

Our ISM made us do things that we would have never normally do.

Service reminds me that it is not about me at all— What I did or did not do— Rather, it is about God, what He put in me and what HE wants out of me in my service.

I have told you many times that I did not choose ministry as a career path, rather, I was called by God. We are all called to ministry, we all have gifts. All to often we focus on the gifts that are most visible. however, everyone has a ministry! Almost all of what I do on a daily basis came to me as I obeyed God in my service— Until I began serving I did not submit to the process

Transition: When we serve for sometime, and we learn that we have something to give and might be somebody, the thing that keeps us humble is that the flesh rises as we serve in community.

2. Service shows us where we need growth.

Psalm 119:71 NKJV

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

“We are not saints. The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.” (Big Book, p. 60)

Service brings our character defects to the surface so we can surrender them.

For example: impatience when someone relapses; pride when asked to do something “beneath” us.

Through service, we learn humility, accountability, and how to rely on God.

Working with others can test our motives—are we trying to control or truly help?

Recovery is a program of action: “Faith without works is dead.” (p. 88)

True growth happens when we move from being helped to becoming helpful.

We need to be aware of the fact that we are not glorified.

When we stop growing we start dying.

Spiritual death in this sense looks like religion. Those who have started dying spiritually have stopped growing because they do not check in with God because they assume the know everything they need to.

Transition: While we have learned that we must serve to stay humble and we must serve to grow. We also learn that service can be vital to keep us from relapse.

3. Service keeps us sober.

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Proverbs 11:25 NKJV

25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

“Nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.” (Big Book, p. 89)

Sobriety is maintained by giving it away: “You can’t keep it unless you give it away.”

Service keeps us out of our own heads and away from self-pity, resentment, or isolation.

Being responsible to others gives structure to our lives.

“Helping others is the very thing which makes life seem so worthwhile to us now.” (p. 124)

AA teaches that newcomers are our medicine; they remind us where we came from and why we must never go back.

“Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.” (p. 89)

The Twelfth Step is not optional—it’s a prescription for lasting recovery.

Conclusion:

We came here to get better and “go back to our lives.” When we serve we learn how much we want to control things and don’t and didn’t realize that our defects may have come before our ISM. Being of service teaches us to deny my self and turn to God in my weakness. In many way service teaches us more about ourselves than anything could. Service may well open the door to so many things you are asking God for now— What if the things you are asking God for are wrapped up in your service?