Chapter 5: Engage Through Serving
In Part One of this book, we explored the pivotal role confession plays in developing empathy for others. We examined the importance of, and the key differences between, the one-time decision to confess Jesus as Lord, the daily decision to admit and turn from our transgressions, and the moment-by-moment choice to remind ourselves of our identity in Christ.
Now, as we turn our focus to engagement, we will emphasize the discipline of serving. Serving involves meeting the needs of those around us without the expectation of compensation or personal gain. Whether you are volunteering at a church, going above and beyond for a colleague, or demonstrating God’s love to a difficult family member, it is a vital habit that fosters connection and builds meaningful relationships.
When we examine John chapter 2, the account of the wedding at Cana provides a powerful example of Jesus serving humanity. Though He attended the wedding as a guest, He stepped in to help when a need arose. His willingness to act demonstrates that serving is essential for building connections and engaging with the people in our lives. Throughout this chapter, we will explore five key principles to keep in mind as we serve, and they are relevant regardless of your current context.
Five Principles To Remember As You Serve
1) Jesus Served You First
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled Himself to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of humanity. By living a sinless life, dying the death we deserved, and rising again, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of love. When you feel tired or unmotivated, remember that Jesus placed humanity first, even when confronted with death face-to-face. It is only fitting that His first recorded miracle in the Gospel of John, turning water into wine, was centered on a simple act of service. His example encourages us to follow in His footsteps, even in the midst of significant opposition.
2) Find The Connection Point
Many people struggle to know where to start when it comes to serving. A helpful approach is to identify the intersection of how God has gifted you and the needs of the person in front of you. Look around—what needs do you see? Look within yourself—what talents and passions has God wired you with? By combining these answers, you can effectively serve your world with a deeper sense of purpose. In the case of Jesus, He was uniquely suited to replenish the wine supply. As God incarnate, He alone had the ability to meet the need through the transformation of water. Even though you may not have the ability to transform the elemental structure of nature, God has given you specific resources and talents that He wants you to use to meet the needs of others.
3) Work With A Team
It is interesting to step back and consider the fact that Jesus could have simply transformed the water into wine by Himself. After all, He is almighty, and the fulfillment of His plan will happen regardless of our participation. Yet, He chose to work with others to perform the miracle. For us, it is important to recognize that, unlike Jesus, we cannot do this alone. The impact of our serving is exponentially multiplied when we choose to work alongside others.
4) Give Others The Credit
After He instructed the helpers to fill the jars with water, Jesus directed them to bring the new wine to the master of the feast. While this may seem like a simple action on the surface, it is actually an incredible demonstration of selflessness and humility. After all, Jesus is the real reason why the water transformed into wine. Despite this fact, He allowed the guests to be the ones to deliver the good news to the leader of the party. When we serve, it will be tempting to want to take the credit for the impact we make. However, following in Jesus’ footsteps, we must intentionally give all glory to God while celebrating those we serve with.
5) Remember The Ultimate Reason
It was never about the wine. Jesus’ priority in serving was not only to meet the immediate need but to point others to the ultimate need-meeter, God Himself. He came to pour out the wine of His blood on the cross, establishing a new covenant with humanity. It is easy to lose sight of the purpose behind serving. The goal is not to gain approval or recognition, but the goal is to point others to Jesus. If we serve with any other motive, it can lead to frustration and burnout. However, when God is our fuel, nothing can stop us.
Conclusion: Building A Bridge To Be Heard
If the discipline of confession helps us understand the person in front of us, then serving is the bridge that brings us closer to them. It is important to keep in mind that we do not serve people solely to convince them to listen to what we have to say. That would be manipulation, which is directly at odds with the heart of God. However, when people see that our sacrificial love comes from selfless motives, they are far more likely to be open to hearing our message. After all, in a world plagued by greed and self-interest, a truly loving, humble individual is sure to capture the ear of even the most ardent cynic.
