Service Provided

/ serv·ice /

noun | 1. the action of helping or doing work for someone: “millions are involved in voluntary service”

2. a system supplying a public need such as transport, communications, or utilities such as electricity and water: “a regular bus service” “uber” “parents”

verb | 1. to perform routine maintenance or repair work on (a vehicle or machine): “have your car serviced regularly”

What does the Bible say about service?

We must look at this from the Christian lens. No matter what the topic is, it is important to define our terms.

So what does the Bible say about service?

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Deuteronomy 15:7–11 ESV

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Deuteronomy - which means “Second Law” is the final book of the Law books, known as either the Torah, or the Pentateuch. Basically, Genesis through Deuteronomy serve as the law that is referenced throughout the Bible. For the Israelites, this was the standard in how to live with one another.

What kind of language do you notice regarding service?

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART

Hardening your heart - means to stop feeling kindly to someone. So when you hold a grudge, or when you hold anger towards someone, your heart is hardened

I don’t know about y’all, but sometimes I get frustrated because I have other plans going on, and helping someone can be annoying.

SHUT YOUR HAND vs OPEN HANDS (helping someone else)

This means to give abundantly

if someone falls down, you extent an open hand to help them up. I have never met anyone who extends a fist.

When we have open hands, it says to people, “Here are my hands, use them how you will” “I am offering them to you”

LEND HIM SUFFICIENT FOR HIS NEED

this one struck me rather heavily. instead of just giving someone something, we are asked to give SUFFICIENTLY.

The amount of times I see a homeless person, and I just give them my change.

Or what about when someone asks for help, and I give the smallest amount of my time? (I used to tutor Accounting, and I would do whatever it took to get it over with as quickly as possible) (No one loves Accounting)

Or what about when someone asks me to help them. When I go home, my dad’s love language is fixing up his house or taking care of cows. Basically, intense labor. My dad has two daughters, and as what we like to consider a “CORN FED, WHOLE MILK CHILD”, I am the ideal for manual labor. I cannot tell you the amount of times I would do the bare minimum just to say I helped.

What do y’all think about “TAKE CARE LEST THERE BE AN UNWORTHY THOUGHT IN YOUR HEART”

Giving and taking care of the needs requires more than just doing. Here, we see that there is an aspect of heart involved.

DO YOUR ACTIONS HAVE HEART?

1 John 3:17-19

1 John 3:17–19 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

What do y’all see in this passage?

HOW DO Y’ALL INTERPRET THE FAMILIAL LANGUAGE?

We see sibling and child language used in this section.

This shows that a relationship between one another and with our Heavenly Father.

If we talk with each other in this way, that means that there is love involved, between our brothers and sisters, and with God.

Service means involving love in the mix.

When we authentically love one another, our heart is set in the right place so that we can serve one another.

It’s easy to do something for someone you love, right? If your mom or dad asks you to do something, or if your grandma asks for some help, we immediately do not think twice about it.

How does this look for a stranger? DO WE SEE STRANGERS IN THE SAME WAY? DO WE SEE HOW WE ARE RELATED IN CHRIST WITH EACH OTHER?

IF WE DID, WOULD WE BE MORE INCLINED TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER?

1 Peter 4:10-11

1 Peter 4:10–11 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks the words of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

IN THIS PASSAGE, WE INTRODUCE GIFTS.

Do y’all know how God has gifted y’all?

For Brandon and Joey, we know God has gifted them musically so that they are able to lead worship for us.

What about Cary Bevins, Becca, Mr. Tommy and Mrs. Laura who devoted their time to serve. In fact, all of our leaders who come and serve us. Their service is being here and connecting with us, investing in our lives.

For some of us, we are gifted in speaking. We can talk very elegantly, and put things into words so easily.

Others are strong. Maybe services looks like manual labor. When I got here today, Siah was working on putting mulch outside of the church.

Sometimes, I see some of the guys serving during Sunday morning Big church services, with the offering plates.

What does service look like for you?

How has God equipped you for the Kingdom?

WHAT ARE YOUR GIFTINGS?

Talk to people, talk to friends, pray about it, how are you gifted?

We know from the Bible that service is engrained in the Christian calling. Whether it is to serve the needy or to serve one another, we are called to it.

THERE IS NO GETTING OUT OF THAT.

What does this mean for you?

How can you serve? Where are the needs of the area in which to serve: school, home, church, hobbies, work, extra-curricular activities?

Can you talk to someone and get involved where you are?

I want y’all to think about that and how YOU are called to SERVE WHERE YOU ARE.