Why Volunteer, Serve, or Join a Ministry Team? (This article is one of a series of articles entitled “Why Volunteer, Serve, or Join a Ministry Team?” My hope is that these articles will inspire you to serve faithfully and or will help you as a leader, cast a vision for serving and helping others find their joy in serving as well.)

Reason Two: Serving Others is a Key to the Blessed and Abundant Life

I believe that Jesus has come to give you abundant life! Jesus said,

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

There are many choices and decisions that we make that help us experience this abundant and blessed life. Jesus gave us a hint to one of the was ways to fully experience this abundant life right after He washed the disciples’ feet in the gospel of John 13.In this life lesson that Jesus taught his disciples about serving, he set an example for them that they wouldn’t soon forget. It’s also a lesson that applies to our lives today!

Jesus Set the Greatest Example for Us to Follow

Jesus and his twelve disciples were invited to a dinner party. When they arrived, there was a servant’s towel, a basin, and a pitcher of water. What was missing?

The servant- the one who was, according to custom, to wash the feet of the dinner guests.

You know the story. Jesus gets up and takes on the role of the missing servant and he washes the disciples’ feet.

John 13:3-5 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

After Jesus had served them, he sat down and asked them a question.

John 13:12-16 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.“ Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus was saying:

• “Acts of service are not below me, they ought not to be below you either.”
• “If I, your teacher, and your Lord, the one God had put all power into my hands, the Christ… if washing feet is something that I would do…I expect you to do it too.”

Every believer in Christ Jesus must realize, as his followers, Jesus calls every one of us to follow His example in doing acts of service, even in practical ways, like washing people’s dirty feet.

This will be one of the things that makes us different than the world. It’s sort of God’s trademark on us, that we are willing to serve others. We are not pride filled people who are always looking for someone to serve us. This is how people will know we are Christ followers.

So, Why Serve Others?

From Jesus’ example of serving, we quickly see that we should be doing acts of service, volunteering, and giving of ourselves just because Jesus said He wants us to live that way.

But WHY? Why is Jesus asking us to live this way?

This was a notable example that Jesus gave for all of us, but again, it wasn’t just a great example. It is one of the keys to living and experiencing the abundant life that Jesus wants us to live.

The Key to an Abundant Blessed Life is Serving Others

John 13:17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

There it is! The Key to an Abundant Life! The Key to the blessed Life for which we were created!

This is the key to choosing joy!

He said, “Now that you know these things…” John 13:17Know what things? Do what things? Acts of service, acts of kindness to others. Laying your life down to serve others. If you serve others, you will be blessed and fully experience His Abundant Life.

Now That You “Know”, You Will Be Blessed If You “Do”

There is a difference in just knowing the secret to a blessed, joyful life and actually doing acts of service. There is a difference in desiring to serve others and actually serving others.

The blessings and joy don’t come in the knowing, or the desire, or in good intentions.

You will only be blessed and experience true joy if you do them.

Let’s learn from this example of Jesus and help others understand that if they step forward and volunteer to serve others, they will be blessed beyond their wildest dreams! Jesus guarantees it.

Serving others is one of the keys to an abundant and blessed life!

Pastor Scott Moore

08-29-23

scott.moore@believersmail.com

Believers Church of Statesboro

www.believersstatesboro.com