We are all different, so we each show love and appreciation to each other in various ways.
But when it comes to serving others, check your life. Sometimes when we think we are being "good people", we might not really be. For we can have other motives; we can be selfish even when it seems like we are not. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become "fools" so that you may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18
I love being involved in the beautiful people in my life; but they aren't always so "available" for me. I know it isn't because they don't care about me; people usually tell me it is only because everyone is so busy with their lives, and I'm sure that is very true. I'm busy myself too after all.
But regardless, I'm not so convinced that is the full reason. Sure we are all busy; but are we so certain that we couldn't possibly be busy for just selfish reasons? How could we be so busy as to rarely have time for others? (We means a general we; you might happen to be the least selfish person in the world—I draw mainly from my own experiences and observations). Or perhaps it is simply everyone assuming we are all busy with things in our lives when we really aren't that busy. Whatever the case may be, people still often see a "do not disturb" sign on our lives, making it so they will be less likely to "bother" us. Do people see one on your life? I know people do with me.
Regardless where you stand, still be willing to be "interrupted" by others; Jesus was. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. Matthew 20:30-32
So what does it mean to be "interrupted"? You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15
Whatever you think your purpose in this life may be, make sure you show love to others—in whatever form may fit who you are. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Loving God and loving others should be at the top of the list before us: Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39
Be careful though. Serving one another is not about competition. Don't make your motivation only to do it to show others how great a person or Christian you are. No one is greater or lesser than another, no matter who you might be nor what you may have done. [Jesus speaking] "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them". Matthew 6:1a Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philemon 2:3-4 Serve others humbly; love them because you want to!
Serving others really is a blessing even if they do not show appreciation back; evaluate your motives--[Jesus praying to His Father] "I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do". John 17:4 Bring glory to God by loving those around you. Remember the greatest commandment?
Be thankful and serve with a loving heart without looking for praise. If that is your only motive, then you are missing the point of what it means to love. [Jesus speaking] "…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28
I know as well as anyone that doing literally anything in this life can be scary. Maybe serving others humbly is not generally your thing. But that to me is the beauty of life. If we didn't have problems, make mistakes, or take risks, then no one would ever learn nor grow. And learning and growth are two valuable and beautiful things...
Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
It's alright to be afraid of something new; you're not alone in that. But have faith; trust Him. Even when things seem like they will never be okay; for while it is true "You cannot control [everything that] happens to you, you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." ~Brian Tracy "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." ~C. S. Lewis "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
God loves us no matter what we do. But imagine just how vast His love and joy towards you can be when you truly surrender everything to Him and just love. We aren't perfect beings; but we can always strive to be. I believe that is something He longs for us to do: to strive to love Him. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" Matthew 25:21
I love this quote by C.S. Lewis:"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step". You don't have to agree with everything I say. In fact, I don't want you to! What I would hope is for you to sift through all that I have said and see what it might mean in your life. This is what life is all about; learning from one another and thus loving each other in order to love and honor our Father. Loving one another reflects what our relationship ought to be with God. So you might not have an idea what you should do with your life, but as C.S. Lewis said, take a step. Such an attitude won't make things all nice and shiny, but it will allow opportunities for growth and advancement. Opening ourselves up to love means to become vulnerable; but take heart, for it is in our most vulnerable moments that He draws close…
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
May we love as we are loved.*
Thank you God,
Whitney
