Service to Others

Dum Vivimus Servimus

I am proud to say that I am a 1979 graduate of Presbyterian College. While at PC, I was fortunate to learn a great deal about serving others. The motto of PC is Dum Vivimus Servimus, or While We Live We Serve. Many will find that is simply a good way to ‘give back to their community’. However, for me and many of my classmates, we recognized this as part of God’s plan.  

My parents began the process of instilling in me this sense of service. Presbyterian College helped me grow with this commitment to serve. So, serving others is something that has been important to me. I want to love, to serve and to care for others that God puts in my path. In order to do that I have to have a servant leader’s heart. I need to know God and have a relationship with Him if I am to obey His Word and serve Him.

Sometimes it’s just hard to swallow this, but there is no job too small that God will not be glorified in you doing it. Even a new college graduate might become too prideful and think some jobs are beneath him or her. Can you think of someone who fits in this story? The story is told of a young man who had been hired by the personnel department of a large supermarket chain. The young man was excited for the opportunity as he reported to work at one of the stores. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, handed him a broom and said, "Your first job will be to sweep out the store." Shocked, the boy replied, "But I'm a college graduate." The manager looked down and replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't know that. Here, give me the broom and I'll show you how.” There is no job too small that God will not be glorified in you doing it.

Here’s another example I found one day that I want to tell you about.

There was a businessman during the mid-1960’s who was very successful and was called upon by high profile leaders.  Apparently, he wrote in his autobiography about a certain call he received. The businessman had a very loyal assistant. It had been a very tiring few days. So, on this occasion, he asked his assistant to hold all his calls while he got a nap. 

The phone rang not long after. “Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson.” Can you imagine answering the phone and finding the President on the other end asking for your boss? “I’m sorry, Mr. President, he is sleeping. He said not to disturb him.” “Miss, wake him up. I want to talk to him.” “No sir Mr. President. I work for him, not you.” Galbraith recalled that he called the President back, and President Johnson could hardly contain his pleasure. He wanted that assistant to come work at the White House. The assistant was loyal to one person. She obeyed his wishes explicitly.

True Servant

Paul was the same way. He had a single focus to follow and obey His Master, Jesus Christ. You can read that he described himself as a slave of Christ Jesus in Romans 1:1. There were others who tried to command Paul, but he was focused on serving Christ. 

A true servant will follow his Master anywhere, obeys without reason or explanation. A lot of people say they know God, they love Him or read His word. Yet, there are not many who are true servants of Christ. Paul is a good example of a humble servant. He had quite a list of earthly qualifications. He writes “I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.” 

But Paul didn’t take pride in his achievements and his standing. Remember, his name at one time was “Saul”. Saul means ‘to be desired’. That’s kind of a prideful way to look at his name right? But he left that name and became ‘Paul’ which means ‘small or little’. His experiences showed him that the worldly status meant nothing compared to the opportunity to serve Almighty God. Remember, God doesn’t see you with titles, ranks and social status. 

Our Savior Demonstrates True Service

There is a familiar story in John about an act of service that our Lord Jesus Christ did that really blew away His disciples. Peter really objected when Jesus was ready to serve him. Do you remember what Jesus was doing?

Washing their feet! Gross! Remember that this was a task that a servant would always carry out, not a master or a head of household. But Jesus himself washed their feet. They wore sandals and constantly were walking on dusty roads, through unclean water, and around animals. Can you imagine how their feet smelled after a long day??? Jesus didn’t do this just to fire up His disciples so that they would be kind to each other. His goal was to "extend His mission on earth after He was gone." We know now that these men would be the leaders who would move into the world serving God, each other, and people who would hear the message of salvation.

Now for the call to action

Okay, let’s think about this. Jesus paid a very high price for our sins. We are to respond to His gift. Pastor Rick Warren says “God saved you so He can use you.” How are we to be used? 1 Peter 4:10 reads “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” We are to obey His Word and serve Him by serving others as Christ showed us. Anyone can think about, talk about and even have convictions about Jesus Christ. However, just as Pastor Rick Warren said “Faith is action. It is movement; it is activity. Faith is something you do.” 

Servant Leaders right here!

Serving Him comes in many different forms. I’d be interested in knowing how you are currently serving our Lord by serving others. Comment below here in my blog briefly how you serve Him! 

GO BLUE HOSE! Dum Vivimus Servimus - While We Live We Serve!

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray