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Title: Glad Service
Date: Mar 31, 2008
Topic(s): Service/Servanthood, Christian Living/Situational
Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24, Romans 12:11, Genesis 29:14-19, Psalm 100, Deuteronomy 10:12, Ephesians 6:6-8

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So, you get a phone call from someone at church asking you to help in an area of need. What's your response? An immediate "No, can't be bothered"; a "Yes, I suppose," (but you'll grumble about it for a week) or a "Yes, absolutely, happy to serve!" Honestly, you know which attitude you should have, but it's not always the one that surfaces. Can you build a better attitude toward serving God?

What Does God Say?

Psalm 100:1-2 drops the right attitude into the middle of a call to worship.
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!" (ESV)

"Serve with gladness" means having a genuine eagerness to be of use to God, taking pleasure in doing His work, no matter what it is. It's not really about the job but about the Person you're doing it for. And, as Psalm 100 states, it's part of your act of worship.

Glad service is often motivated by love. In Genesis 29:14-19 we read about Jacob who willingly served or worked for 14 years because he loved Rachel and wanted to marry her. That love made the time fly. When our service is motivated by love for God, it makes the job a joy.

In Deuteronomy 10:12, service follows love. "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (ESV). And it's a whole-hearted experience. Serve gladly and give it all you've got!.

My Thoughts

So, maybe you're wondering "Why? Why serve? Why serve gladly?" Well, first, it's God's instruction for you (for example, Deuteronomy 10:12, Romans 12:11). But there are other reasons too. Read all of Psalm 100.

• Psalm 100:1-2 and 4 give you instructions. Jot those down
• Psalm 100:3 and 5 answers why you serve? What reasons do you find?
• What's your current motivation for serving?
• What needs to change if you want to "serve with gladness" today?

My Part

So, how do you do it? While He's ever-present and He lives in us through the Holy Spirit, it's not always easy to know how to actually do something for Him. Don't worry, He's got that covered: You serve God by serving others. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ" (NLT). Check out Ephesians 6:6-8 too.

So, where do you start? Maybe it's time to call that friend at church back and turn your "no" into a "yes"? Or spend time praying that your heart will be happy to serve, and give up grumbling? Keep track of the opportunities you're given, and apply an attitude of cheerfulness. See what a difference it can make in your service.

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