Live to Serve
Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
How many times a day are we thinking about ourselves? What we can buy for ourselves, what we will wear, what we will eat, what we want to do on the weekend and so on. Then let's think about how often we have the needs of others are on our mind… how can I bless someone today? Who can I buy a gift for? Whose lunch can I pay for today? Who can I give some of my clothing to? How many people can I bless while driving - letting someone else go ahead of me rather than racing to my own destination?
These are not thoughts that will naturally come to mind if we aren't being intentional in our thinking. Our world is full of advertisements that are self-pleasing. In order to retrain our brain, we have to really choose to do something for someone else each day. The enemy would love for us to continue living for ourselves and never give a thought to someone else. God designed us to help others, when we do, it actually blesses us and gives us a sense of satisfaction that cannot be matched by any other means.
Fulfilling your calling will always include helping people. If you are called to worship, to preach, to teach, to clean, to cook or whatever it may be, if you are not helping others through your giftings, you will be left feeling empty. We have to love others without hidden motives. Be genuine and true. Live a life of giving and serving and you will find fulfillment in each day. Let's step outside of our comfort zone and pray for God to show you new ways to help others. It will be a journey with God that will cause growth and empowerment as you lead by example for Christ.
1 Timothy 1:5-7 (NKJV) Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
