Just do it!!

Why don't people serve?

I think it has a lot to do with their priorities...that is, what makes it to the top of the list. Probably many people have very good intentions, but their attention stays focused on the top of their list. Their jobs...getting kids to soccer practice, dance, cheerleading, etc...trying to stay caught up (more often get caught up) on stuff around the house...family obligations (weddings, b-day parties, Aunt Sue wants everyone to come over)... it's easy to get overloaded.

Notice that I didn't even include anything that people just might want to do. What's wrong with getting away for a weekend or hunkering down on Saturday to watch college football? Nothing! So it's easy for me to see how serving gets pushed so far down on the list.

Most people wither never knew or have forgotten that serving one of the reasons we're here. Gal 5:13, Eph 4:11-12, Eph 6:7, 1 Tim 6:18 and Hebrews 10:24 are just a few of the many verses in the N.T. that talk about the importance of what we do, and how we do what we do.

I think a lot of people have missed out on the incredible joy it puts in your life when you unselfishly serve someone else...unselfishly means serving someone when there is no benefit to you (except for the joy). There's the old volleyball/church cliche that if you're not serving, you don't get the point (except for rally scoring which is now the norm). If more people served and realized what a wonderful thing it is for them and for their family, maybe service might begin crawling its way up a few people's priority list.

I wonder how much we church leaders have robbed people of this joy and opportunity.

• We've painted service as an "ought to" instead of a "get to."
  
• We apologetically beg people to help us out, when we should be teaching what God says about serving and then help people find a way to jump in.
  
• People indicate that they may be interested in something and we drop the ball and never call them back. (You don't often get a second chance)

I could think of more, but I don't want to be all negative.

Serve! That's the bottom line. Jump in and do something!

I recently had a friend tell me that they were going to drop out of serving so that they could "be a student for a while." Their concern was that they were leading ministries but didn't think they were qualified b/c of a lack of Bible knowledge and experience. I'm definitely not picking on my friend, but if you don't think your qualified to teach then set up chairs... work in the nursery... run the lights or sound... Do something! As far as I can read in Scripture, there's never an escape clause. There's no "Serve unless..." passage.

We were created to do good works. Followers of Christ produce fruit. Let the pagans see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Serve!!