True Service
A healthy church cultivates a congregation that actively serves beyond its walls. While this may seem obvious, it’s crucial for the church to grasp what genuine service truly looks like.
First, it’s about who we serve. We serve God and are accountable to Him. His desire is for us to follow Christ’s example, giving our lives in service to others. The gifts and talents God has given us are meant for this purpose.
Second, service isn’t confined to the church or community; it’s everywhere we go. As Christians, we serve our families, friends, neighbors, and anyone we encounter.
Lastly, how we serve matters. Our goal is to share the gospel through both words and actions, relying on the Holy Spirit, not our own strength or manipulation. We want Jesus to be present wherever we go, because only He can save.
People’s salvation must be our priority, as none of us knows how long we have on this earth. While we are called to help those in need, this should be done out of love, not as a tactic for evangelism. Helping others to manipulate their response to the gospel cheapens both the act and the message.
Our mission is to preach the gospel, but if someone has an immediate need, we should help them because it’s the right thing to do. However, we must avoid enabling dependency or trying to "buy" someone's attention with charity. We can offer food, counseling, and training, but ultimately, what people need most is Jesus. Once they have found Him, they possess everything necessary for true life—they just need guidance to grow in their faith.
As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” But give someone Jesus, and you give them eternal life and spiritual sustenance for eternity.
Die to Yourself
People don’t ultimately need our help; they need Jesus. The way we offer them Jesus is by letting them see Him through us. And that only happens when we fully surrender and submit our lives to Christ. Just as Jesus gave His life for us, we must give our lives to Him, for the sake of others. We must offer ourselves as living sacrifices, allowing Jesus to shine His light through us (Romans 12:1).
