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Chapter 41 - Service

The radical Christian may not find Christian leaders who can provide the instruction that will equip him to minister to others. As a result, he may have to seek out such instruction on his own through books and videos or identifying those who are more advanced spiritually than he is and asking them to help him draw nearer the Lord. However, throughout the process, the radical Christian is advised to remember that it is with the goal of ministering to others that he receives instruction.

"He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose" - Jim Elliot

A man who had been involved in church youth work was once asked he if had observed typical worldliness in the youth with whom he had worked. He said that he had seen it, however, there were a few exceptions. When asked what the exceptions were, his response was that there were a few youth who had a concern for others.

Christian maturity is marked by love (selflessness). When we are less driven by those things that serve self, we are more content, fulfilled, and completed. As a result, we are more available to consider the needs of others.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. - Philippians 2:4

Those who do not know Christ can get rather frantic as they try to accumulate things for themselves (riches, experiences, notoriety, admiration, etc.). Yet, all come to the grave. The Christian has the certainty that all that he has he will lay down only to inherit true riches and eternal life.

As a Christian matures and seeks opportunity to minister to other Christians, he should be aware that there are others desiring to control and direct his desire to their purposes. For example, church administrators are always on the prowl for those they can enlist to serve the mechanical system of their church machine. Many organizations seek to obtain financial support from those who have a surplus (and sometimes from those who do not). Often Christians are browbeaten to evangelize, almost like with the recruitment zeal of a cult.

The radical Christian can see that he has to seek the Lord’s leading in service to others. This requires active seeking (prayer) as well as growing discernment. As a Christian matures and is less concerned about self, he has the opportunity to observe and engage with others. If he inventories those things that the Lord has already provided him, he might consider how that could be used in service to other Christians.

A young person may not have accumulated much to share with others, but often has the strength of youth. He might consider an elderly widow and ask if she needs help raking the leaves from her property in the fall. An older woman (whose only resource was time) might ask a harried young mother if she could use someone to watch her children so she could get some other chores done.

Even if a Christian has no money, transportation, or relational connections through which he could minister to others, he should be aware that his prayers on the behalf of others have great value before God.

Some would persuade the Christian to allocate his resources (time and money) to noble sounding causes such as feeding the poor. Some even are persuaded that they can contribute to ending poverty.

However, Christians have a priority to serve other Christians first

When considering what, when, how, where, and who to serve, it can seem puzzling. This shows how much we need to have the Lord’s leading in our lives. Consider the waste of resources if we undertake something in our own strength without the Lord’s direction and provision.

It can seem easier to have someone else direct us and determine what and how to serve the Lord. However, we should remember that it is we who will be judged for how we used what the Lord provided.

It is possible that we lose reward because we listened to someone we shouldn’t have.

There are limitations as to what can be done for others. Even Jesus lamented that those in Jerusalem were disinterested in what he had to offer.

One of the most difficult things to consider is that others may have no interest in what you offer. Further, some may be harmed by good intentions. If a Christian won the lottery and wanted to help other Christians with gifts of money, he would soon discover how ungrateful people are and how people are often corrupted by the deceitfulness of riches.

Real service to others has their edification (being built up) as a goal. We have a tendency to view difficulty and hardship as evil and see ease and comfort as a solution. Our effective ministry to others has to be with a view to that which helps them grow in Christ.

As the radical Christian matures in love, he begins to feel compassion for the needs of others. It is this extension of love between Christians that is supposed to demonstrate to the world what is unique about Christianity.

To grow in Christ-likeness is to grow in love. We can see that this love is alive (because it dwells), that it is from God, and that it is supposed to be passed on.

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