The Spiritual Gift of Serving

I remember before all this Covid stuff hit that I use to go out to a restaurant every now and then with Kim and Ian, friends, or fellow pastors. A couple of my favorites are Perkins and ihop. They usually have good food and service. There are a few things that get me to come back after I go to a restaurant.

The servers are friendly and making it personal.

The servers get my order correct

The servers get my food in a timely manner

I am sure you can relate. We’ve all have had experiences where the service was great and experiences were the service we recieved in a restaurant was not so great. I am sure i’ll get some Amens about that!

Now God expects us all in some way or fashion to be servants in His kingdom. To serve one another by loving each other. To some he gives people the natural endowment and supernatural strength to serve people. Now the gift of serving can also be described as the gift of helps or ministry and it’s very hands on and practical.

Today we are going to continue our series on spiritual gifts. Specifically the spiritual gift of serving and helps.

Acts 6:1–4 (NIV)

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

The Abuse of the Gift of serving

We can be a Martha instead of a Mary. We can become so busy with serving God that we neglect our relationship with him.

Luke 10:42 (NIV)

42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We need to keep Jesus central in our lives. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by the cares of this world and need to practice being in God’s presence constantly. We can become so busy doing for God that we aren’t spending time with God.

I don’t want us to be a Martha Church that is busy with programs. I want us to be a Mary Church that rests in God’s presence.

There can be some negative characteristics of someone who has the gift of service that they need to monitor and safeguard....

Negative Characteristics of someone with the gift of service

Disregard for weariness.

One might think that those with the gift of service have the negative trait of a disregard for weariness. While this can be a negative or even positive trait because those with the gift of service have been given a supernatural strength and stamina. These servants work tirelessly beyond the point of where others would grow weary. It’s there joy and strength in what drives and motivates them to serve others in the body of Christ.

Difficulty saying “no.”

Those with the gift of service have trouble saying no because they are very unselfish and focus on the needs of others. Even to the point where they neglect their own life and needs of their family.

Need for approval and appreciation.

Affirmation and recognition do not inflate the ego of the servant; words of approval confirm that the service has been effective. When we thank someone who has served us in Christ, we have given them evidence that they provided help and are being used by God. These believers need to be reminded that the smaller tasks are important. That everything we do for God has value in the kingdom of God!

Tendency to feel inadequate and unqualified for spiritual leadership.

People with the Spiritual gift of service can have a low self-esteem and view of themselves.

These are some negative traits of someone with the spiritual gift of service but, there are also some positive ones...

Positive Characteristics of someone with the gift of service

Sees the needs of others.

Those with the spiritual gift of service are the first ones in the group who see’s the needs of others. They are the first ones to drop off food to a hungry family. They are the first ones to fix something that is broken at the church. They are the first ones to take the initiative on there own to offer help. These are people who speak more with their actions then they do with their words.

Frees others to achieve.

Illustration-(Charlie and someone volunteer to mow the church grounds)

Have a memory for the details

A servant is always others focused so they have this supernatural ability to remember the details about things that enable them to serve people better. Such as remembering names, specific needs, and projects that need to be done in the church.

Meets needs quickly.

People with the gift of service are not procrastinators. They want to get things done because they usually are working with list of things to do. So they are always looking at the next thing. Therefore they tend to meet needs quickly.

The Example of Jesus

We see the greatest example of being a servant in Jesus . While the pharisees were casting stones, Jesus was washing feet. While the disciples were arguing over who would be first in the kingdom Jesus was declaring whatever you do to the least of these(the hungry, the thirsty, the sick and the imprisoned) you are doing unto me.

Matthew 20:26–28 (NIV)

26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

*SHOW MAN IN WHEELCHAIR VIDEO*

This is a great example of someone who has a true desire to serve the Lord who has the gift of serving. Someone who has all the excuses to use not to serve but overcomes those obstacles because the love they have for the Lord!

Can you imagine a church full of people with a servant’s heart like that?

You might not have the spiritual gift of service but, we are to use whatever gifts, talents and resources we have to serve one another in love.

We aren’t called to just sit but we are called to serve!

So what kind of server are you?

Are you a server that is friendly, loving, and one that makes it personal by revealing to people who Jesus is by your words and actions?

Are you a server who can get the order right? What I mean is can you discern and see when someone has a need in there life that needs met?

Are you a server who can get people what they need at the right time? When God reveals a need to us, usually he doesn’t reveal it to us so someone else can meet it.

Our standard response is “I’ll pray for you”. That’s what we should do. But we need to stop substituting prayer for obedience. God calls us to do both!