Serving Others
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Who do you serve?
It is an important question to ask because Jesus told us that we can only serve one master, God or money. Matthew 6:24 reads, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
If we are honest, the reality is that you can either serve God or the world. Many try to serve both, wanting one foot in each world, what the Bible describes as “lukewarm.” However, the truth is that either Jesus is your God or the things of the world are.
So, who do you serve?
Establishing Who Is Your God First
If you were thinking that this lesson was about how Christians can serve others, you are right. However, before doing this, we must first establish who is your God.
The reason in doing so is simple. If you are serving God, then you are willing to do the things that help grow the kingdom of God, represent God well, and make a difference in the lives of others. When you are serving the world, your motives will not be right, and you will soon find that you have strayed from making a real difference in the life of others.
When Jesus said that you can either worship God or “money,” He is not speaking only about currency. In Matthew 6:19-23, Jesus talked about building up your “treasure” in heaven. He is asking what do you feel is important? Is it your house, your car, your bank account, your investments, your position – your stuff, or are you more concerned with how you are furthering the kingdom of God? Are you focused on doing things where God would look to you and say, “Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23)?”
This is an important question to ask because it will directly impact how you are helping others.
For example, if I am serving God and putting His kingdom first, building up “treasure” there, then my motivation for helping or serving others will be significantly different than it would be if I was focused on worldly treasure. Let’s look at an example.
You are driving your car when you notice a woman with a flat tire along the side of the road. If God is your master, you would likely opt to stop and help her solely because she needs help. In doing so, you would help her get back on the road and she would see true agape (self-sacrificing) love. No ulterior motive. You simply wanted to help. That would likely lead her to question why you would do such a selfless thing. She may even ask you why you are doing so, giving you the opportunity to talk about Jesus and what He has done for you.
However, if your motive was not Jesus, the scenario could be quite different. Maybe, if you did not find her attractive, you may not stop at all. If you did find her attractive, you may find that your conversation was quite different. Your selfless act quickly becomes a lust-focused one. This could lead you to act on those lusts, which could lead to sin.
Have you been in situations where you did something nice for someone, but you did it for selfish reasons?
It is ok to do things that make you feel good for doing them, but your primary motivation should be to please God – to build up treasure in heaven. In pleasing God, you are opening the door to spread the Gospel message, potentially expanding the kingdom of God.
How would you feel if you helped someone and that person asked about, maybe even accepted Jesus because of your act of kindness?
Time to Serve
Serving God is the most important thing we can do. Colossians 3:23 tells us that in everything we do, we should do it as serving the Lord. Many of us focus on the earthly supervisor or boss as our “superior,” but God is telling us that we ultimately work for Him. Therefore, all our actions, deeds, and works should be related to doing things for Him.
There is great blessing in serving God. In Exodus 23:25, God declares, “You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.” If you focus on serving God, He will bless the things you eat and help you with your struggles.
This is said a little differently in Job 36:11, where it reads, “If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.”
Do you see the benefits in serving God?
God Calls Us to Serve Others
We are called to serve God. We are also called to serve others. Romans 12:9-13 tells us:
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
In looking at these verses, what are ways in which Paul advises us to serve others?
Jesus gives one of the best examples of how a person can serve others in Matthew 25:35-36:
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
How does Jesus tell us that we should help others?
Can you think of ways in your life right now where you could serve others in this way?
Interestingly enough, if you continue reading through Matthew 25, Jesus later explains (Matthew 25:41-46) about those who had an opportunity to serve but did not choose to do so. He tells those listening that He was hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, and in prison and they did not care for Him. He then tells those people to depart from Him.
Do you think it is a problem if you do not help others?
Why do you think some find it difficult to help others?
Free to Make a Difference
In our last section of classes, we learned about being freed from slavery to sin. That now we belong to Jesus, and He is one who gives us the freedom to make the right decisions.
One of those ways is in serving others. Galatians 5:13 reads, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
You are free from all the burden and shame that comes with your sin. It is all gone. The flesh no longer can control you. So, what does Paul tell you to do now? It is to serve others!
1 Peter 4:10-11 explains it this way, “10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Using Your Spiritual Gifts
This will be discussed in greater detail in your next class, but it is important to realize that you have gifts that have been given by God. Some of these are natural gifts. You may be a great mechanic, be able to play the guitar, cook really well, or have an exceptional voice. Those are gifts from God.
There are also spiritual gifts. These are gifts that God gives to each believer that is used for the benefit of the church. While that spiritual gift may also benefit you in other areas of your life, the primary purpose is for you to be able to serve others and the church with your gift or gifts.
You should have taken a spiritual gift survey to find out which gifts you have and these gifts will be discussed in your next class.
Your Good Deeds Represent God and You Well
How do you want to represent God?
This is a question that all of us should ask ourselves. When someone saw your actions and heard your words, would they believe you were a follower of Jesus Christ?
In 1 John 4:12 it reads, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
No one has seen the face of God. However, if you love others and serve them well, how do you think that your actions would affect the way they view God?
Now, take that the other way. If you did not serve others, talked and acted harshly and did things that were sinful, how do you think others would view God now?
The truth is that you have the ability to display or distort the face of God. Your deeds and works should do things that represent God in a positive light.
Do you think your actions more often display or distort the face of God?
Keep in mind that you are seeking to build up treasure in heaven. Ultimately, the things you do should be for the benefit of God. As a result of doing those good things, know that God will bless you abundantly. Ephesians 6:7-8 reads, “7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.”
No matter where you are in life, whatever your socioeconomic status may be, God is going to bless those who do good. God is going to reward those who help and render service to others.
Are you seeking the treasure that God has for you in heaven?
What are the challenges that you face in serving others?
One Final Thought
God wants you to help and serve others. In doing so, you display the face of God well, and you also help others to succeed.
In your study in James 2, you will read that faith without works is dead. That one demonstrates his or her faith by the works that he or she performs. So, it would make sense to believe that serving others is part of demonstrating your faith.
However, we must always return to an important part about serving others. That we must do so in a way that benefits them.
Romans 13:10 tells us, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Your love and support for others should not lead you to cause them harm. What do you think are ways in which helping someone could actually do them harm?
Do you think everything you have done to try to help others has actually benefited them? Why or why not?
Understand that you may have good intentions, but your actions may not be in the best interest of others. Covering for someone’s mistakes, physically assaulting someone because he disrespected your friend, or providing drugs to someone because you do not want to see them suffer may seem like good decisions. However, they are not helping that person. Therefore, that is not what service is all about.
This is doing wrong to your neighbor. It is also doing wrong to God. 1 Samuel 12:24 tells us, “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” God has done great things for you and your actions should represent serving Him well.
What you will find is that you need to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). That, often, the reason we do things to help others is to make ourselves feel better. We are not really helping to better that person but helping ourselves to feel like we are doing something good.
What is one way that you believed you were serving someone well, but you realize now that you were really not serving them at all?
How could you have helped that person so that he or she would have benefited?
Your Memory Verse: Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Bible Passages for the Week:
Monday – Matthew 25:35-40
Tuesday – Joshua 24:15
Wednesday – Galatians 5:13
Thursday – Matthew 5:16
Friday – Hebrews 6:10
Saturday – Pick a passage from Scripture that teaches you about how to help others.
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© 2025 Dr. Robert Pannier, Hope CDA, All Rights Reserved
