Saved People, Serve People...Without Grumbling

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. -1 Peter 4:7-11

This passage is hitting me right between the eyes today.  Has the word of God ever done that to you?   I found myself having to do something that I don't want to be doing today, and I have a very bad attitude about it, all the while I can feel God whispering to me, “This is what serving me is all about.”  So taking a break, I looked at my devotion text assigned to me...  Wham! Right between the eyes!

Our passage today says, “love others deeply... Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling... If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

I think my problem is I don't see my everyday interactions with the people near me as opportunities to serve.  Serving others always seems to be something I plan for, but true service probably shows up in spontaneous, not planned for situations doesn't it.  That means my heart has to always be ready.  Ouch!

If you are like me and struggle with spontaneous service, it might help to remember a couple things.

1. Serving other starts with loving them.  See the person or people you are serving as ones needing love.
2. Remember how much you have been given and forgiven.  It’s always good to get a little perspective, remembering that God sees our needs and gives generously.
3. Ask God for help.  We are often put in situations beyond our ability, even our ability to love. Ask God to help give the strength and heart needed to serve.

So I am going to stop grumbling and rely on God’s strength so he can get the glory in Christ Jesus.

Relationship: Handle With Care!

“Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn’t visit you in Corinth?  As God is my witness, the only reason I didn’t come was to spare you pain.  I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative. We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical.  We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours. That’s why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us.” 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:1 (The Message)

[To see today’s text in 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4 (The Message), click here.]

“Use things and love people ... not the other way around,” recalled Chuck Swindoll in a radio sermon many years ago.  It was a lesson his father had taught him as a boy.

We’re good at protecting the things we value.  We encase our collectibles ... frame our first-place ribbons ... preserve our memorabilia in the attic ... place breakables out of reach of grandchildren ... lock up our coin collections ... slip our photos behind cellophane ... wash and wax our trophy cars.  You can pretty much tell what we treasure by the lengths we go to protect them from harm.

But when it comes to the people in our lives, I’m afraid we’re not always so careful.  If we were, I think it would look something like this: We would listen hard to understand before jumping to imagined conclusions ... offer mercy and grace instead of condemnation ... celebrate their successes, instead of stewing in jealousy ... forgive, truly forgive, instead of resenting a list of wrongs ... stand up for people, rather than remaining silent before their accusers ... expect the best and not give up ... encourage, rather than stymie ... give of our time ... and speak truth, always and only in love.

Relationships require sensitivity. After all, there is, as Solomon said, “... a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ... a time to weep and a time to laugh ... a time to mourn and a time to dance ... a time to embrace and a time to refrain ... a time to be silent and a time to speak ...”

And along with that, my wife might add, “... a time to talk things through, and a time to put them behind us and go forward in ‘right relating.’” 

Paul modeled right relating and a keen understanding of “a season for every activity under heaven.” When it was time to plant and grow Jesus' church in Corinth, he went there.  When it was time to address unhealthy developments in the church at Corinth, he wrote there.  And when it was time to let the church in Corinth heal on its own, Paul stayed away from there.

In all things – whether going, writing or not returning to the Corinthians – Paul acted in love ... caring love.  They were, after all, people and not things. 

And people deserve our very best.