Finding Fulfillment and Eternal Joy in Serving God (3 of 3)
As we continue our series on serving God and the church, you may wonder, “What’s in it for me?” Well, let’s explore the answers to that question.
Serving strengthens our relationship with Jesus. Embracing the fact that we are servants of the Lord defines our identity and instills a sense of purpose in us. By actively serving the body of Christ, we deepen our connection with Jesus.
Serving the church also fosters a sense of community and builds lasting relationships with those we serve and those we serve with. When we serve alongside others, we share a common purpose and experience the joy of working together for a greater cause. When we pour ourselves into others, we invest our hearts and lives and care more deeply about them.
When we serve as an act of worship, or faith and love, we experience the joy of being used by God and being a part of something bigger than us. And again, it is fulfilling when, in trust, we love others as an act of love for God.
When we serve as an act of worship, or faith and love, we experience the joy of being used by God and being a part of something bigger than us.
Face it. Service calls for work, sacrifice, and putting other’s needs ahead of our wants. That is the very nature of service. Yet it is also the very nature of love! We’ve already made the case that love and service are hard to separate.
Service calls for work, sacrifice, and putting other’s needs ahead of our wants. That is the very nature of service. Yet it is also the very nature of love!
Love meets needs. When we genuinely love God and those we serve, helping them, providing, training, and protecting them becomes fulfilling and rewarding. But love, again, is key. Serving is most fulfilling when you love the Lord and those you serve.
Finding joy in knowing we have honored God, re-presented Christ, and positively influenced someone’s life toward Jesus are remarkable rewards.
But there’s far more to it. The most frequent answer from Scripture affirms faithful servants will receive eternal rewards.
The most frequent answer from Scripture affirms faithful servants will receive eternal rewards.
Not every believer will hear this, but how awesome for us to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Yet, as we faithfully serve God and others, we can expect to hear these words from our Lord.
He will also reward us in ways we can’t even imagine.
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will dress himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
In the final chapters describing the new heaven and new earth, John says:
Revelation 22:3 There will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.
Our faithful service to God and others will be acknowledged and rewarded in ways beyond our imagination.
In conclusion, serving God and the church is a privilege that brings numerous rewards. It strengthens our relationship with Jesus, deepens our connections with others, and allows us to experience the joy of making a difference. Moreover, faithful service is met with eternal rewards that Jesus desires to lavish upon us.
So, let us embrace our unique spiritual gifts, find roles and avenues to serve, and serve the Lord and His people, knowing that our efforts are not in vain.