RESTART: Service to God
美佳之窗 His Window 103（ Jul - Sep 2024 ）
Text by Rev. Matthew
There are several Christian cliches that Christians who have been around church long enough will sort of know by heart. Some of it , “Trust in God” or “Let me pray for you” and many more. But, one “cliche” that stands out is the statement, “Christians must serve God.” Though not always presented in this exact phrase, the essence of this statement remains. This statement has motivated most of us to participate in church ministries and even pushing some into full time ministry. However, say it wrong and we can also get that serving God is the “next step” that shows true Christian growth, or to some extremes, it is a factor in determining how much God is pleased with you or will bless you. This is most certainly a misunderstanding of the term “Christian service.” Let us dive into what it means to serve God and hopefully through this article, we can gain some insights that will help inspire us to serve God.
Not Just Church Ministry
The greatest misconception of serving God, is to only participate in church-based ministries. Examples of church-based ministries are like, missions, worship team, serving coffee, ushers, social concern and many others. Church-based ministries are a platform for us to begin serving but it is not the only method of serving God. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 highlights a very important aspect of ministry for us to understand. Paul begins by saying that there are “varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” Take note of the word “varieties.” It means that there are multiple gifts, multiple ministries, and multiple ways to serve one God. This is certainly not limiting but broadening the scope of ministries and activities that makes up service to God.
To say that only when one serves in church ministry, then it is considered serving God, is a limited and narrow understanding of what serving God is. Involvement in church ministry should spark a fire within us to serve those around us, outside of the church. Church ministry should birth in us a greater compassion to love people and bring the Gospel to many more people. So, if serving God is not just in the context of church-based ministries, then how else can I serve? Serving God starts small. The cup of water you give to a thirsty person, that is serving God. The food you cook for someone hungry, that is serving God. The colleague at work whom you help in his or her struggles at work, is serving God. These are all ways we serve God in our everyday lives.
Not a Job
To think of serving God as a “job” or “task” defeats the whole purpose of serving God. Unfortunately, in today’s task-oriented world, and with churches modernising its worship and ministries, serving God can feel like a second, unpaid “job.” While we give our best in serving God and do our best, we must remember that the focus of serving God is God. Matthew 25:40 says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” Whatever we do, be it in church or outside of church must not be done to please people, it must be done as for God. Whatever service we do, must not come from the attitude of obligation but, an extension of our worship to God. To love God is to love God’s people (everyone), and if we can have this mindset, it will certainly put a correct perspective when we serve God. Ultimately, when we can realise the reason and the person whom we are serving, it will lead to joyful and sacrificial service. Ministry must never become a “job”, for the day that happens, is the day we lose all joy and purpose of serving God.
All Are Qualified
One of the top reasons I get from Christians not serving God is, “I am not qualified.” Maybe for some, it is a genuine feeling of disqualification due to the lack of training or being a new believer. However, for some, it is merely an excuse to avoid serving God. Take a look at the gospels, Jesus never called the “qualified” to follow Him. In fact, it was the “qualified” — the pharisees, sadducees and teachers of the law — that opposed Jesus the most throughout His earthly ministry. In fact, Matthew 19:20-22 records one such lawyer who was reluctant to follow Jesus, instead went away “sorrowful” for he loved his possessions more than Jesus. To Jesus, it was never about the qualification of the person, instead, the heart of willingness. For the 12 disciples of Jesus, when He called them, they left everything and followed Him. They did not know the road ahead, but they faithfully and obediently answered the call of Jesus to follow Him.
For us today, all are qualified to serve God. For certain ministries, e.g. pastoral ministry, special training maybe required of you. However, if God calls us to serve God, it is Him who qualifies us for the ministry, not anything we do, learn, or possess. And if God qualifies us for His ministry, then He will also equip and empower us adequately for the ministry, just as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:6. So, my prayer is that we as believers be like the disciples of Jesus, open up our hearts and when Christ calls, we follow Him!
Rev. Matthew