You were made for more than you.
Find happiness by doing for others.
Why serve?
We all chase peace and contentment in life. But we fool ourselves into thinking we can find them in career, relationships, travel, adventure, or material possessions. We work to acquire whatever it is we think will make us happy, and it does for a while. But then the feeling wears off, So, we start again, chasing the next thing we think will bring us peace and joy.
After going through that process again and again, we begin to despair. What if happiness is impossible? What if peace and contentment are unattainable?
Here’s the good news: you can create a happy life . . . but only if you give your life away. Serving others by volunteering at your church is a great way to start. In fact, Jesus made service a core practice of his church. The New Testament records that at the Passover meal before Jesus was arrested and later crucified, he washed his disciples’ feet. This was a deeply humble thing for him to do. And when he was finished, this is what he told his followers:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
John 13:14–17
So, we serve others as an expression of gratitude to Jesus for serving us by giving up his life so that we could have a relationship with God.
Additional Resources
Group Resources
How to Be Rich by Andy Stanley
Becoming a Good Samaritan by Michael Seaton with John Ortberg
When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett
Radical Hospitality by Richard Beck
Books
The Greatness Principle by Nelson Searcy
Serving Without Sinking by John Hindley