Philippians 1:27
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I know I sound like a broken record when I repeatedly tell you that people are watching, but it’s the truth. People are watching … and so is God. And I can assure you, they notice what you don’t do as much as what you do.
We are often so self-absorbed that we either don’t see the needs of others all around us … or we don’t care. At the very least, we have an arsenal of excuses for why the needs of others are not our problem. We’re so busy worrying about what we need to get done for ourselves or how things will affect us that we fail to think about the burdens of others. So children move across country (or across town) and don’t call their aging and ailing parents for several months or years. Young people would rather spend time and energy on “fun” friends than elderly relatives who could use a visit or a phone call. Taking care of babies and young children and being responsible parents is a drag compared to hanging out with friends and socializing.
“Friends” are so busy with their own lives that they fail to recognize that someone in their circle is in a downward spiral … until the person hits rock bottom or has some major crisis. Church members drift away and stop coming … or find another church home … because nobody seemed to genuinely care whether they stayed or their needs were met.
A lot of times we get caught up in “who you know” and “who you are,” and we only want to serve God in ways that satisfy our desire to be viewed as someone important or to be a part of the “in crowd.” The true servant is humble … gladly picking up garbage on the side of the road … caring for an elderly person who can no longer take care of basic personal needs … dispensing groceries at a local food pantry to needy, hungry patrons … or cleaning out stalls and kennels at the local animal shelter.
The true servant is willing to give a ride home to that kid in your class who looks like he sleeps in his clothes … the same ones day after day. The true servant is willing to go through his/her closet and find things that are hardly ever worn and share them with someone who has little to wear. The true servant is ready to walk across the aisle on a Sunday morning and sit with a fellow worshiper and ask “How have you been?” … and then stick around to truly hear their response. The true servant looks for ways to help others – to meet their needs in the name of the One who meets all needs.
It’s funny how we worry so much about what people see us do … but we seldom give a thought to what others might notice that we’ve left undone. What have you left undone for others today? How can you better serve others in Jesus’ name … even when nobody seems to notice? How can you make a difference for His kingdom and honor the Good News of Jesus Christ?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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