Serving Others

Don't be fooled - being a Christian chick does NOT make you a weak women. Scripture’s description of a worthy woman demonstrates that she courageously takes on the demanding task of servanthood. Proverbs 31:20 describes, “She extends her hands to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.” She doesn’t just offer care at her convenience. The words extends and stretches show that she will go beyond her own means to express sensitivity and invest in others as she “works with her hands in delight” (Proverbs 31:13). As stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” So yes, that means you should serve others GLADLY (preferably with a smile on your face and joy in your heart!)

The calling and obedient response of women to serve is shown throughout God’s words, beginning with the very first book of the Bible. When Isaac came to Rebekah’s house, she “quickly lowered her jar to her hand and gave him a drink.” Then, she proceeded to draw enough water from the well for his camels to have a drink as well (Gen 24:18-19). Do you know how much camels can drink? Seriously, Rebekah had to have arms of steel!

Mary and Martha opened their home frequently to Jesus and the disciples so He would have “a quiet place to sleep, nourishing meals, and comforting friends with whom to relax.” Okay, I'm not gonna lie. I'm a bit of a neat freak, especially when it comes to my apartment. If someone is coming over, it's going to be spotless...no matter who it is!! I can't imagine the pressure of having Jesus and the disciples come hang out at my house - I would be a nervous wreck and cleaning for DAYS! But these women were always prepared to open their homes and their heart to those in need.

There were many other women in the New Testament as well. Lydia bravely opened her home to Paul and Silas, even after they had been released from prison on more than one occasion (Acts 16:15,40). Paul described Phoebe as a “servant of the church” and “helper of many,” and acknowledged Persis “who has worked hard in the Lord (Rom 16:1-2,12). He also recognized Nympha for opening her home to hold a church (Col 4:15).

A present-day example is Mother Teresa of Calcutta After observing her at a banquet, Dee Jepsen wrote that she had never witnessed a woman with such power. Unlike many women that some may view as having small amounts of influence, Mother Teresa “never shook her fist in anger for her rights, and never asked for anything for herself. Instead, she reached down into the gutter and raised up those the world calls unlovable…because the poor were created by the God she loves and serves.”

Local churches are full of needs that only lack someone who is willing to serve. Many of the less glamorous positions in a church are often looked over, but that does not make these tasks less valuable. Many people would not come to hear an evangelist if they knew they were going to have to stand and be uncomfortable the entire meeting. Therefore, the servant who unstacks and places the chairs in rows is of equal importance to the evangelist. Matthew 20:16 teaches, “The last shall be first, and the first, last.” Women should fill various service holes in the church not only to meet the needs of the church, but to teach servanthood through personal example. Don't hesitate to ask your pastor or your youth minister where he can use you. Maybe you'll be teaching children's Sunday school...or maybe you'll be picking up trash in the parking lot or changing dirty diapers.

So serve the Lord with gladness, and ask yourself one question. Have you ever served someone else and felt worst afterwards or wish you hadn't helped them? That's what I thought.