Service...Serve Who?

Call it laziness, call it selfishness...and that's probably what it is, but I love being served. I'm a momma's boy at heart, and I love knowing that my mom is going to be there to take care of every single need that I have. From extracting grease stains from my shirt to preparing my favorite meals, my mother knows how to take care of me. Now, I know there is no problem being pampered by your parents, however, I have this habit of viewing every moment through the lens of "how can my needs get met". If we're all honest with ourselves, most of us fall into this category as well. The problem boils down to one simple, honest, and maybe uncomfortable truth: I believe that my needs are more important than anyone else's needs.

This is the reason that we often find it so hard to serve others around us. Someone asks us to help out at church, but "I don't enjoy that area" or more accurately "my need to be entertained outweighs your need for my help". I know God wants me to serve an annoying person in my life by hanging out with them, but "they really get on my nerves" or "my need to be comfortable outweighs their need for intimacy and love". My Mom is really tired from work and I know I could help by taking some of the house work, but "I'm really tired too" or "my need for rest and relaxation outweighs her needs". I could go on and on with examples like these, but I think it's clear that this problem envelopes every area of our lives.

Possibly the easiest way to combat this mindset, is to begin placing ourselves in situations where we're forced to serve. Finding and committing to a serving team at church is a very easy and important way to begin transforming our minds. By regularly putting someone else's needs in front of your own, you can start conforming your mind to one similar to Christ. The next step is to find areas in your own life to begin serving those around you. Take advantage of those in your own house. Practice viewing your family's needs as more important than your own. Only when we have truly broken our spirit of "self" can we ever begin to build a heart which is Just Like Jesus'.

Explore
Meditate on the words in 1st Corinthians 10:24, Matthew 22:37-39, and Philippians 2:3.

Pray
That God can begin to break your spirit of selfishness, and allow you the strength to serve those around you in a Christ-like manner.

Discuss
In what ways can you serve someone in your life?