Message—“What is Our Motive for Serving God?”
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Faith Temple Church—Jenna's Message for the Youth Sunday Service
Help From: Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Introduction:
Someone said, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.” *pause* Did you know that “coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one or two degrees?” *pause* or, that “when you get goose bumps, the hair in your follicles is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat?” *pause*
We serve such an unbelievably amazing and wonderful God! Our Creator is brilliant! His handiwork is indescribably beautiful! Whenever I look at the hills, the sunset, the mountains, the stars—all I can think is, wow. *pause*
And our seasons! Talk about a God of variety! Well...maybe for us South Dakotans, it’s too much variety! I love our own Helen H.’s Facebook status that she posted earlier this past week. She wrote: “Dear Winter, I am breaking up with you. It's not me, it's you. You make me miserable. I think it's time I start seeing other seasons.” *pause*
And, our God has quite a sense of humor, as well. I mean, really! *shrug* He made us, didn’t he?! *smile*
So, last week, I went to a movie with my brother. Before we went to the movie, I had watched the trailer, and I had THOUGHT that it looked entertaining--*dramatic pause* I was asleep within the first 20 minutes of the movie... And the chair that I was 'reclining' in (thank you, West Mall 7 Theatre seats--enough said) didn’t exactly help, either. *smile*
Also, what I didn’t realize until later was that when I fell asleep during the movie, I had given Josh a scare. *pause* You see...Josh thought that I was...dead. *pause* Yes. *pause* Dead. *pause* *nod* As a doornail. *shrug* Whatever that means. So...*dramatic pause* Josh decided slap my face. I didn’t respond. So...*dramatic pause* He raised my hand and dropped it. *pause* But since there was still no movement, Josh decided to take my pulse. *pause* *perk up/brighten* Good news. *pause* I was, *pause* am, *pause* alive. *smile*
Yes, God definitely has a sense of humor.
I am so blessed to be able to serve our God with you, and to follow in the steps of Jesus, and be His Hands and Feet. As I think about our service to God, a couple questions come to mind:
First of all: Why do we serve Him? Do we serve Him out of obligation or out of love?
I. Serve for the Right Reason
Here is a short passage from a classic novel. In this excerpt from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, he tells about a woman who came to a priest, and how she explained to him why she didn’t think that she would be able to live a life of service as a nun. She said,
“But could I endure such a life for long? That’s the chief question—that’s my most agonizing question. I shut my eyes and ask myself, ‘Would you persevere long on that path? And if the patient whose wounds you are washing did not meet you with gratitude, but worried you with his whims, without valuing or remarking your charitable services, began abusing you and rudely commanding you, and complaining to the superior authorities of you (which often happens when people are in great suffering)—what then? Would you persevere in your love, or not?’ And do you know, I came with horror to the conclusion that, if anything could dissipate my love to humanity, it would be ingratitude. In short, I am a hired servant, I expect my payment at once—that is, praise, and the repayment of love with love. Otherwise I am incapable of loving any one.”
How tragic! Every time I read this passage, two thoughts go through my mind. First of all, how could a person be so inconsiderate of others and so self-seeking? *pause* Of course, that thought is soon followed by: why do I serve? *pause* Is it only because I wish to receive something in return, something that will benefit me personally? *pause* Or maybe I feel obligated to serve? OR *pause* do I serve because I love the Savior, and want to share in the work that He is doing of blessing others and reaching out to them so that they may know Him as I do? *pause*
Serving God out of love for Him can be so much fun! *pause* I don’t know about you, but every week I so look forward to the opportunity of heading to the Armory to help give out—not only food, but also hope, as well as share the love of our Savior—to those that come through the food line. *pause*
I find that I have been the recipient of many blessings that have come in unexpected ways, and I’m sure that you have, as well. *smile* *pause*
I know that I am blessed when *pause* an older Russian grandmother (babushka) whom I have befriended comes over to me and gives me a hug, as well as speaks kind words in Russian to me, and occasionally treats me to Russian chocolates. *smile*
Or I am blessed when: *pause*
I am listening to my Arabic-speaking friends who are having a lively conversation with each another, and recognize MY name being spoken in their conversation. *smile* *pause*
It definitely touches my heart. And I think *pause* it touches God’s Heart too. *pause*
So, for those of you who haven’t been out to the food giveaway to volunteer yet, I would have to strongly encourage you to do so! Not only do you bless others, but you become blessed as well! *pause*
Serve for the right reason. *pause* Mark 10: 45 says: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus was the Ultimate Servant! *pause*
In John chapter thirteen, He washed His disciples’ feet! God Himself *dramatic pause* washed men’s dirty, disgusting feet! *pause* Can you imagine? *pause*
Jesus was the Ultimate Servant. He served out of love! Because He served out of love, we should also.
II. Be Jesus to Others
Philippians 2
He Took on the Status of a Slave
1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
So, what would it look like if we served like Jesus did? *emphasize each word* What if we humbled ourselves and put ourselves with our concerns and needs, last? What if serving Him required us to leave our comfort zones, and step out and embrace those whom society wouldn’t consider approaching? *pause*
God isn’t afraid to reach out and meet people where they are—so why are we? *pause* What if we followed Jesus, our Leader, and lead others to Him? It has been said that the greatest leaders are servants. *pause*
“A noncommissioned officer was directing the repairs of a military building during the American Revolution. He was barking orders to the soldiers under his command, trying to get them to raise a heavy wooden beam. As the men struggled in vain to lift the beam into place, a man who was passing by stopped to ask the one in charge why he wasn’t helping the men. With all the pomp of an emperor, the soldier responded, ‘Sir, I am a corporal!’
‘You are, are you?’ replied the passerby. ‘I was not aware of that.’ Then, taking off his hat and bowing, he said, ‘I ask your pardon, Corporal.’ Then the stranger walked over and strained with the soldiers to lift the heavy beam. After the job was finished, he turned and said, ‘Mr. Corporal, when you have another such job, and have not enough men, send for your Commander-in-Chief, and I will come and help you a second time.’
The corporal was thunderstruck. The person speaking to him was General Washington!” *pause*
So, with God’s help, may we lose our pride, and submit to what He has in store for us. *pause* May we serve like Jesus served and go where He leads us to go. *pause*
There is a song by the band Willet called “And Shout from the Roof Tops.” A few of the lyrics from the song are:
“When poverty and wealth collide, it hits harder then a plane crash/And spreads love to the lonely and forgotten places/I found God today, He was right where He said He would be…/Here in the brokenness, right here in the brokenness.” *pause*
So where do we fit in? Where are we willing to go to carry the Name of Jesus? *pause*
Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to interview Jeremy Willet, the lead singer of the band Willet. I inquired about the last song on Willet’s latest album "Teeth of a Lion, Fangs of a Lioness" called "Steps." The lyrics to the song are: "The more steps you take/The more that you leave behind/So who is following you now?" With this in mind, I asked Jeremy how he hopes to impact and influence others by the way that he lives.
He said: “My goal is this—songs are important, music is fun, touring the world is a blast, but ultimately, all of that will pass away and be replaced by the ‘next thing,’” he said. “What really matters in this life is our relationship with Jesus, and how we love those around us. We do a lot internationally, but one of my favorite things to do in the U.S. is to go and meet homeless people under a railroad track in my hometown and take them out to dinner and talk to them. People living in poverty—domestic or international—deserve to be shown love. That is what The Bible is all about! That is what Jesus did! And...I want my life to look like Jesus.” *pause*
Serve for the right reason. *pause* Be Jesus to others.
