The Weekly Encourager – September 4, 2013 – A Heart for Service

Do you have a heart for service? I sometimes wonder about myself and my own motivations for serving others.

The other morning I dreamed that I was doing dishes for a family in our church. We recently prayed for this family, because it would have been the 29^th birthday of their precious son, who is now with the Lord. I dreamed that they were having a commemorative gathering in their home. People were enjoying good food and fellowship, and I took it upon myself to do the dishes. That sounds really holy, doesn't it?

Maybe, until I woke up. A few minutes after that pleasant dream, I went down to have some breakfast in the real world. Immediately, I saw that my husband had left several dirty dishes out on the dining room table, forgetting to carry them in when he was finished and place them in the dishwasher. The kitchen counters hadn't been wiped either, and the microwave was a disaster after some late-night snack. My first thought was, “I'm getting so tired of him doing this, I think I'll just leave this stuff out and he can see it when he gets home from work; then he'll have to put it away himself.” How's that for holy?

Thanks to the Holy Spirit living within me, that plan was scrapped. I am so thankful for His gentle reminder of what I had just dreamed not 10 minutes earlier. How could I be so willing to do a pile of dishes for friends, and yet refuse to serve my own husband in exactly the same way? Then the Spirit brought conviction: in the dream I had the expectation of being noticed and appreciated for my cheerful volunteering, but here at home there was no one around, and I wasn't volunteering. No one would see me doing these dirty dishes yet again at my own little pity party. In the privacy of my own kitchen, no one would know what went on that morning but the Lord and me. Then another thought tumbled into the mix: my husband has had to live with my stacks of stuff in various rooms for quite some time, and I know that these piles bother him. Never mind that my piles are clean and organized and on their way out, the fact is that they bother my husband and I know it.

Where would I be if the Lord Jesus had refused to serve by dying on the cross? This same Lord Jesus who saved me through His willing service asks me to take up my cross and follow Him. Part of that way of the cross is helping families in the church (like the dear ones in the dream), and part of it is doing good for those who don't know Christ. But surely a principal path of service is to my own husband and family! I am called to be a helpmate to this one man, and it doesn't come naturally to me. When you're married to someone for 34 years, the odd habits get annoying, and I'm usually more concerned with my own agenda than finding ways to help those at home.

In my flesh, I want to show those around me how they disturb me, but love avoids drawing attention to the faults of others. In my flesh, I expect to be noticed and rewarded for any good deeds I deign to do, but love doesn't seek the praise of men. Help me, Lord! Remind me as often as necessary that the most important Christian work I will ever do will be in the rooms of my own home. This is where decisions are made and character is formed, when no one is watching but God.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who...emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” - Philippians 2:3-6

Lord Jesus, give me a heart for service.

God is faithful,