The Responsibility of The Believer - To Serve Others

The Responsibility of The Believer - To Serve Others

The responsibility of the believer in Christ to serve others and use our gifts and talents for the benefit of the Church and the world is emphasized throughout the Bible. Jesus himself modeled this servant-leadership and called His followers to do the same.

Jesus teaches that serving others is equivalent to serving Him. He describes the final judgment where He separates the sheep from the goats based on how they treated the least of these. Jesus states that when we serve those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, or in prison, we are serving Him. He rewards those who serve others with the promise of eternal life. The bible states in Matthew 25:31-46 (AMPC), “When the Son of Man comes in His glory (His majesty and splendor), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;? And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care. Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?? And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me. Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life.

Another example of a believer using their gifts to serve others is found in Acts 9:36-42. Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, was a disciple who was known for her good deeds and acts of charity. She used her skill in sewing to make garments for widows and the poor. When she became ill and died, the other believers in her community were devastated. Peter was called to come and pray over her, and she was raised from the dead. Tabitha's faithful service to others resulted in her being remembered and loved even after her death. This? is found in Acts 9:36-42 )AMPC) “Now there was at Joppa a disciple [a woman] named [in Aramaic] Tabitha, which [in Greek] means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity. About that time she fell sick and died, and when they had cleansed her, they laid [her] in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa [however], the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him begging him, Do come to us without delay. So Peter [immediately] rose and accompanied them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, crying and displaying undershirts (tunics) and [other] garments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she was with them. But Peter put them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling in God's people and the widows, he presented her to them alive. And this became known throughout all Joppa, and many came to believe on the Lord [to adhere to and trust in and rely on Him as the Christ and as their Savior].”

The Apostle Paul encourages believers to use their spiritual gifts to serve others in the Church. He lists various gifts such as prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, and showing mercy. Each believer is called to use their unique gifts to serve others in the Church, building up the body of Christ and glorifying God. You can find an example of this in Romans 12:6-8 (AMPC), “Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.”

God rewards those who serve others with blessings in this life and in the next. In Matthew 19:29 (AMPC), Jesus says, "And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name's sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life." The Apostle Paul also speaks of rewards in 1 Corinthians 3:14 (AMPC), saying ?If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.

In conclusion, the believer in Christ is called to serve others and to use our gifts and talents for the benefit of the Church and the world. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of believers who used their skills and resources to serve others, and God rewarded them with blessings and eternal life. Let us be faithful in using our gifts to serve others, knowing that in doing so, we are serving Christ and storing up treasures in heaven.

If You Have Ears to Hear, Then Hear it!