The S Word
Posted in The Historical Faith and tagged with Bible, Serve on October 7, 2009
A few days ago it dawned on me:
“serve” is a despised word. In fact, you’d think it was a naughty word for how people treat it.
Stay-at-home moms are looked down upon because they’ve willingly forsaken all other jobs in order to take up the job of serving their family full-time. Janitors and waiters are also looked down upon because they serve others for a living. No one wants to be the one asked to provide coffee for their boss, because that’s beneath them. Few take the time to clean-up after others, and if they do, it’s even less likely they’d do it cheerfully.
For all our modern thinking, our attitude today isn’t much different than our historical predecessors: servants are the lower class.
Yet, there is something special about serving or being served. Most of us had parents who worked hard to give us what we needed and more comforts and pleasures than we deserved. We create holidays and special events to honor those who serve us in the military or protect and serve us here at home. We take notice when a person of leadership takes time to fulfill some menial task for us, viewing it rightly as an act of love.
No matter how great we become in any earthly standard, God calls us to serve others. Serving isn’t a dirty word. It’s an act of love.
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
Photo by danagraves
October 7th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Goodmorning FGD…Serving…another part of it, I think, is listening. Have you yet realized how many people need someone to talk to, or listen to them talk? Check the next few days and see how many people you encounter who need someone to serve them by listening.
Twitter: mayangelstar
Says:
October 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
You’re right, serving is a dirty word. It should be seen as an act of love. I also agree with the previous comment, listening is key to serving. How can you provide a need if you don’t invest in another person and listen to what’s in their heart!
Good reminder!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Especially the word “SERVANT”… even more of a gasp from people… but exactly who God calls us to be!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Amen!! I agree with you and the commentors above. It’s sad, really. In ancient days, it was an honor to serve one another. Service was not just an act of love but a sign of integrity. And on a side note, I loved waitressing! I kind of miss it sometimes.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
A conversation I’ve had many times …
Him: “So, what do you do?”
Me: “I’m a stay-at-home dad.”
Him: “Oh, laid off, huh?”
You’re right, serving others is seen as menial, inferior, and beneath lots of people.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
what an inspired post! You are SO right! Because I’ve chosen to stay at home others sometimes assume I’m uneducated or too lazy to hold a full-time job. HA!
I think we are humbled as we serve in whatever areas we can, and humble is how we are supposed to be. I know that in this economy it’s interesting to have a little shift of thinking. NO job is beneath us, and that’s as it should be. Earning an honest living, whatever it is, is something to be grateful for and not looked down upon. But ya know, since hubby has had to take a job he’s extremely overqualified for…we do see that people look down on him. It’s nuts, I’m PROUD of him!
October 7th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
It’s ashamed it has gotten such a bad rap. Jesus’ ministry on earth was so much about serving, yet most find it beneath them.
We need to be more like Jesus.
♥
Joy
October 8th, 2009 at 12:00 am
interesting, and so true. No one “aspires” to become a simple servant. And yet that is what our Savior Was… He simply SERVED us ALL!!!!! We do ned to be more like Him! I believe the quickest way we can get to know our Savior and feel His love for us is through Service! good post!
October 8th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Totally agree. We look down upon servants: stay at home moms, volunteers, religious workers… it’s sad! These people make the ultimate selfless sacrifice.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
A beautiful post. ♥
October 12th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Love it! Great reminder. Very thought provoking.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I like to think that everyone has that ‘moment’ when they realize that those who serve do it out if humility and not humiliation.