Practicing Faith Through Service
“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’'"
Mark 9:35
Service is humbly giving of ourselves and expecting nothing in return. Through practicing the spiritual discipline of service, we can become humble before God; our human pride and arrogance are stripped away. Service builds faith by bringing us to the humble position in which we recognize our need for God’s grace.
Forms of Service
#1: The Service of Small Things
“In the realm of the spirit we soon discover that the real issues are found in the tiny, insignificant corners of life. Our infatuation with the ‘big deal’ has blinded us to this fact. The service of small things will put us at odds with our sloth and idleness. We will come to see small things as the central issues.”
#2: The Service of Charity (guarding the reputation of others)
“There is a discipline in holding one’s tongue that works wonders within us... Nor should we be a party to the slanderous talk of others... Guarding the reputation of others is a deep and lasting service.”
#3: The Service of Being Served
“It is an act of submission and service to allow others to serve us…We graciously receive the service rendered, never feeling we must repay it.”
#4: The Service of Common Courtesy
“The specific acts will vary from culture to culture, but the purpose is always the same: to acknowledge others and affirm their worth.”
#5: The Service of Hospitality
“There is a desperate need today for Christians who will open their homes to one another…Sometimes we limit ourselves because we make hospitality too complicated…Just a chance to be together and share—that is the stuff of hospitality.”
#6: The Service of Listening
“We desperately need the help that can come through listening to one another. We do not need to be trained psychoanalysts to be trained listeners. The most important requirements are compassion and patience…To listen to others quiets and disciplines the mind to listen to God.”
#7: The Service of Bearing the Burdens of Others
“If we care, we will learn to bear one another’s sorrows. I say ‘learn’ because this, too, is a discipline to be mastered…But it takes some practice so, rather than dashing out to bear the burdens of the whole world, let us begin more humbly. We can begin in some small corner somewhere and learn. Jesus will be our teacher.”
#8: The Service of Sharing the Word of Life
“We are dependent upon one another to receive the full counsel of God. The smallest member can bring us a word—we dare not despise the service. It is, of course, a fearful thing to proclaim these words to each other…But we must not draw back from this service for it is desperately needed today.”
Adapted from "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster