The ONE THING for today…

Today’s ONE THING is coming at you much later than usual.  The main reason is that Sonja and I met up with Lee and his three little ones – a la our grandchildren (the greatest thing since sliced bread / just ask John and Patsy Wilson) at one of the local parks for a morning of playing in the park followed by lunch and then followed by a nap (grandchildren wear you out!).  I have spent all morning serving my grandchildren.  Protecting them from falling, cheering them on as they navigated all the playground equipment, pushing them in the swing, carrying them from place to place, paying for their lunch, going up and down the escalator over and over at the food court…you get the picture.  (I’ve spent the afternoon getting over it! :))

But here’s the deal…

I’m well into my third year as a “papa” now and there has not been one time that one of my grandchildren have come running into my arms and said, “Oh papa, you have done so much for me, what do you want to do today?”  Why it never dawns on them to consider my feelings are to wonder what I’d rather do.  This leads me to the ONE THING for today: “Intentionally serve others.”

Let me quickly give you four important principles:

First, let’s be clear on this, serving equals success.  Take the “Christian element” out of it for a moment.  This principle is true whether you understand that it is a Christian principle or not.  Take for example “Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream Company”, hardly a “Christian organization”.  But the reason they are successful is that they have found a niche that serves people’s needs.  They do it so well that people are willing to pay for that service.  In addition, if Ben & Jerry’s hopes to continue being successful they will have to continue serving people and serving them even better.  This is a fact of life.

Second, do not underestimate the word “intentional”.  By nature you are selfish; it is a dilemma of human nature.  Without effort being exerted, you are going to approach every situation from how it affects you and what is in it for you.  What this will do is make you “customer” (the one paying for the service) instead of the “success” (the one being paid for the service).

Now, let’s get to the final two principles – and the most important.  Serving is a reflection of your maturity level.  The reason my grandchildren do not think in terms of serving me is that they are underdeveloped (immature); or put another away, they are extremely self-centered and selfish; they see all of life in context of themselves.  Now that’s expected in little children, but when you see the same traits in grown-ups, you know that they have grown older biologically, but not emotionally, and it hurts their chances of being truly successful.

By the way, when the people who you serve are ungrateful and even treat you like a jerk, don’t get angry at them, pity them, they are stunted in their growth.

Most importantly, your ability to serve reflects your ability to love.  The reason I have no problem serving my grandchildren – even delighting in it – is that I love them.  Be sure of this, the moment you stop doing what you do for love is the moment you become at best a “hired gun” swooping in to meddle in other people’s lives for a paycheck.  You have no real passion or concern or love for the people involved, it’s just another “gig” – plug in, do your thing and then move on.  That’s not how to live.

I can hear you saying now, “But pastor, am I suppose to love my company?  Am I to gladly serve my boss and colleagues who care nothing for me beyond our association at work?  Am I supposed to be like a preacher serving a congregation to my customers?”  Well the short answer is: Yes.  Yes you are to love everyone – you love them through Jesus Christ.  Do what you do for the love of Christ.  Your paycheck is His provision for you – He is making a way to help you provide for your family and his work in the world.  But never forget, as a Christ-follower, you are not working for a paycheck, you are expressing your love for your Savior by providing service to a world in much need of our Savior’s services.

For the love of Christ compels us…

2 Corinthians 5:14