For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
The idea of servanthood is to provide for someone else’s needs. Biblical servanthood involves humbling yourself and taking your eyes off yourself so that you can see other’s needs. When we serve each other, we are building up the body that we belong to as believers. We are connected - so your needs are mine and mine are yours.
Jesus is my example of how to serve - humbly, as well as sacrificially. It cost Him. Jesus got on the ground and washed His disciples’ feet. They were astonished as He let go of the rank that He had and put them first. For me, serving often requires the giving of my time, my energy, sometimes my resources, and usually my comfort. Sometimes I’m asked to put aside status or the perception I hope people have of me.
Paul writes in Galatians that we are to serve one another in love. Love seeks the other’s good. Serving each other, while an act of obedience, is not about checking a box. It should be done with a motivation of bringing about good for the other person. A false sense of duty sometimes leads us to busy work that doesn’t really accomplish a desired good, even though it may feel productive to us. Misguided motives can serve our goals, not others.
Service must be received as well as given. This too requires humility. Being of one body allows us to recognize that our suffering, as well as our celebration, is shared.
Finally, serving needs to be done with a spirit of generosity. We are only giving what has already been given to us - materially, in talent, or spiritually. Generosity is born of gratitude.
Let us serve one another. In so doing, we build up the Church and bring glory to Him. And let us do it with a joyful and generous spirit born of love.
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10
