YOUR SERVICE
“O Master, let me walk with Thee.
In lowly paths of service free.
Tell me Thy secret, help me bear.
The strain of toil, the fret of care.”
–Washington Gladden
The Christian has been saved to serve. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Before you become a Christian you were a servant of Satan, now you are a servant of Christ (Rom. 6:17-18; Phil. 1:1). Literally, this word for servant means a “slave.” Every Christian is a slave. “Ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20) Christ, who has redeemed us is now our Master and Lord (Matt. 23:10; 2 Cor. 5:15) He does not force you to serve Him even after you become a Christian, but if you truly understand and appreciate what He has done for you, you will want to become His loveslave. You will want o to do some definite service for Him. Maybe you now have the desire but have not known what to do or how to begin. Here are some practical suggestions:
- Do all your work as unto Him (Col. 3:23-24). Whether it is chores around the home, your schoolwork, or your job in the office or shop, you should do each task as if you were doing it for the Lord, and He will reward you.
- Do good to all men (Gal 6:10). You can bet serve God by serving others. Unselfish service in the name of Christ will do more than almost anything else to commend Him to others. Then when you do speak for Christ, what you say will have weight.
- Distribute tracts. The fact that you are young and show an interest in the other person’s sou may make a deeper impression upon the one you are trying to reach than if you were older. Be sure your tracts are true to the Scriptures and suitable to the need of the person. If they are handed out prayerfully, tactfully, and faithfully they will bear fruit. They often serve as an opening to talk to people about the Lord. You will be surprised how many people are open to teaching if you will just open the subject. You can often enclose suitable tracts in letters to your friends. Tract boxes can also be put up in depots and kept well filled.
- Visit the sick and the aged. Such thoughtfulness will bring you and those you visit great joy. Old people especially appreciate the thoughtfulness and concern evidenced by the visits of young people. Don’t just visit those who you think may expect you to visit them. It is the unexpected kindness that makes an impression for the Lord (Matt. 5:47). Take them some gift that will brighten their days.
- Help supply the physical needs of the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the missionaries. There are always people in need whom you can help, and the Lord will bless you if you minister to them in His name (Matt. 10:42).
- In many places there are. Opportunities for visiting in hospitals, old folk’s homes, and jails. Gospel singing is usually appreciated in such places. In such work a group of young people can work together. This can be done on Sunday afternoons, and in evenings through the week.
- You can serve the Lord through the use of your money. That which He places into your hands is a trust from Him. If you prove faithful in your use of it, more will be committed to you (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-8). The giving which pleases the Lord is not the extra change you may have on Sunday morning, but that which involves a real sacrifice on your part, purposely made for Him (2 Cor. 16:2)
Strive to do something each day that only a Christian would do. The more you do for Christ, the more you will receive from Christ. He is never unmindful of anything done for Him.