Oct 9, 20243 min read

Are You Doing Too Much? Redefining Service

African American Man and Woman with their hand up

Service. For too many Christians, it is where life ends and sacrifice begins. But where did we get this distorted sense of servitude?

How did the vicious rumor of Jesus and no joy spread?

Let's set the record straight once and for all....

Jesus is Joy

True and complete joy is first found in Jesus. He imparted his joy unto us, and since God wastes nothing it is ours to enjoy even in service to him.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ~John 15: 10-11, New International Version

Joy complements our faith. It works in us as a fruit of the Spirit and is just as important as love, peace, perseverance, or any of the others. And yet, we dismiss it as unattainable when it comes to service. It's if we see joy and service as opposing ends of the spectrum but they are not in conflict. They are in concert.

Maybe it's time to take a closer look at what it truly means to serve and how we can benefit from it.

The God of a Good Impression?

One of the most frequent go-to acts of service is hospitality. Yes, we are called to be hospitable - to create an environment for others where God's love can be felt. But since when was that limited to serving plates and pouring lemonade?

Having you served if at the end of an encounter people feel more connected and impressed with you than the God you say you love? How distorted has our perspective on service become?

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” ~Luke 10:38-40, The message Translation

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, made Jesus feel welcomed in her home, then forgot the Jesus of her home! You mean to tell me serving the crowd that came with him held more value than the reason they were there?

I have to ask, "Martha, what were your intentions?"

Are You Doing Too Much?

Martha, was it your intention to impress? Service with the intention of impressing others more than God is not service. It's people-pleasing. We do not bow to the god of a good impression. We bow to Emmanuel, God with Us.

I understand, Martha, that you have been through a lot in a short period of time. You just lost your brother, Lazarus, then miraculously found him in Jesus. It's a lot of grief and joy to process. Were you trying to circumvent your circumstances in the kitchen? Jesus desires you to be complete, whole. Service with the intention of not dealing with how traumatic or overwhelming events have affected us is not service. It's avoidance.

Martha, everything that has happened in the last few days has been out of your control. I'm not judging. We all have a need to control, but is that what you needed in this moment? Jesus showed up to give you what you need. Mary understood that. Instead of supper, she served Christ's sovereignty far beyond hospitality by making him the priority. Serving to control demonstrates a belief that God cannot handle things when we take our hands off and submit to him. What do you believe?

Self-Serving or Selfless?

Whatever your reason, Martha, this meal should have been self-serve! Food is on the stove, lemonade is in the refrigerator! Tell everyone to grab a plate and go for it because the King of Kings is here but don't fill up your belly until you feast on the Bread of Life that is Christ Jesus.

To understand service is to understand that it is God we serve. Man is the beneficiary.

Feel like you are doing too much? Good. It is not selfish to take in and digest what Christ has for you. It's selfless. If you don't take time with God, time will take God from you.