Why Do We Serve

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Why do we serve? Why do we do the nice things that we do? I recently had the Holy Spirit question me on this when I did something nice for someone and there was no gratitude shown by the other person. I was a little irked by it but the Holy Spirit softly and gently asked me this “Erika, why did you do this nice thing – was it bc you simply believed I had asked you too, or bc you wanted the gratitude, the thank you that makes you feel good?” Ouch.

Why do we serve? If we are serving the Lord simply bc He has asked us to and He is Master and we are the servants then whether or not we receive recognition won’t matter. Whether or not the thank you is ever said, the applause is ever heard, the acknowledgement of ALL that we have done is seen, whether credit is ever truly given where credit is due, and whether gratitude is expressed with heartfelt appreciation will not matter. Bc that’s NOT why we’re serving.

There is a prayer in the Covenant Service Methodist Worship Book that sums this up well I think.

I am no longer my own but yours,

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

Put me to doing; put me to suffering;

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

Exalted for you, or brought low for you;

Let me be full, let me be empty

Let me have all things, let me have nothing;

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal…

May we learn to serve, and gently be admonished by the Holy Spirit when we are not, simply bc we are the servants and He is the Master. And if He calls I will come and serve, and when He is silent so will I be, no matter what I think I deserve.