A Lifestyle of Service
Matthew 25:19-21, 29, 34-40; Mark 10:42-45
Why is God showing you this lesson now?
One reason God is showing you this lesson now is because today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This is an excellent opportunity to respond to ways you can serve those who are despised, rejected, homeless or unborn. For example, maybe you could help begin a Crisis Pregnancy Center ministry in your area or serve in an already-existing one.
These verses show us that there is accountability for whom we serve and for how we serve them. Opportunities to serve are everywhere, all the time. But what motivates us to serve?
First, we are motivated because we are servants of the King Himself. We meet the needs of “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) for the King of Kings. Who are the least of these? In our society, they would include the unborn child, the homeless individual, the pregnant teenager, the underprivileged mother or the forgotten senior adult, to name a few. The Philippian jailer cared nothing about the sufferings of Paul and Silas until he knew Jesus – then he washed the stripes of his prisoners.
Second, we are motivated by our spiritual gift (see Romans 12:4-8). You do not have to have the spiritual gift of ministry or service (verse 7) in order to serve. Actually, all seven of the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12 relate in some way to “serving” the Lord Jesus.
How does this lesson connect to what God is doing in and around you?
Christian service is more than serving in a soup kitchen once a year; it must become a way of life. Christian service is more than performing a “good deed;” it is producing much fruit and fruit that remains (John 15:16).
Far too many Sunday school classes have become little more than sitting in our favorite chair, eating our favorite doughnuts and then listening to our favorite teacher until it’s time to move to the sanctuary to sit in our favorite pew. Challenge your class to move outside the comfort zone and minister to the needs of “the least of these.”
I recommend prayerwalking as one way to recognize need in your community. When we go on a prayerwalk, we see needs that cannot be seen inside the walls of the Sunday school classroom or sanctuary, and we develop compassion regarding the people and things the Holy Spirit shows us. Those who cannot physically walk can take a prayerride in a vehicle and accomplish the same purpose.
God is reminding us through this lesson that every life is important to Him!
Rick Astle– Lessons by Rick Astle, director of missions for Waccamaw Baptist Association. Astle is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Southern Seminary. He is the author of two books and lives in Conway.