Psalm 100:2 reminds us, “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” This powerful verse speaks to a universal calling, one that extends beyond the walls of a church or the confines of religious vocation. While we often associate service to God with specific roles within religious institutions, the truth is that the Bible encourages every individual to serve God in their unique way, integrating faith into the fabric of daily life. Serving God isn’t limited to a profession or a Sunday obligation; it’s a holistic approach to living that permeates every aspect of our existence, shaping our interactions with others and our place in the world. To truly understand how we can serve God, we can look to the profound teachings of Jesus Christ and draw inspiration from the life and example of St. Francis of Assisi.
Understanding What It Means to Serve God
It’s crucial to first understand what serving God truly entails. God, in His omnipotence, has no needs in the way humans do. We turn to God for guidance and support, not the other way around. Instead, God’s call to service is an invitation to participate in His divine plan. He equips us with grace, talents, and passions, empowering us to contribute to His purposes within the world.
The most compelling illustration of this is found in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus embodied God’s boundless love for humanity. His earthly ministry was characterized by selfless service, particularly to those marginalized and in need – the poor, the sick, the outcast, and those overlooked by society. Jesus’s ultimate act of service was the sacrifice of his own life, a testament to his profound love for all of God’s children.
Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Therefore, serving God is fundamentally about emulating Jesus’s life and ministry by serving others. It is through acts of service that we genuinely express our love for God, His creation, and our fellow human beings. Scripture provides clear direction on how to serve in Jesus’ name, notably in Matthew 25:34–40. In this passage, Jesus articulates that caring for the most vulnerable among us is the very criterion for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 25:35–40: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
In Christian tradition, particularly within the Catholic Church, service to others is formalized in the concept of the Works of Mercy. These are divided into the seven Corporal Works of Mercy and the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy.
The Corporal Works of Mercy offer a practical framework for addressing the physical and material needs of others. They call us to actively engage with the world and to recognize Christ’s presence in every person we encounter.
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the prisoners
- Bury the dead
- Give alms to the poor
Complementing the Corporal Works, the Spiritual Works of Mercy guide us in nurturing the spiritual well-being of ourselves and those around us.
- Counsel the doubtful
- Instruct the ignorant
- Admonish the sinner (understood as offering compassionate guidance, not harsh judgment)
- Comfort the sorrowful
- Forgive injuries
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Pray for the living and the dead
Serving God through service to others embodies the core of Jesus’ teachings – compassion. St. Francis of Assisi, deeply inspired by Jesus, dedicated his life to following in Christ’s footsteps, urging his followers to internalize and enact these principles in their daily lives.
Scriptural Guidance on Serving God
The Scriptures are rich with teachings on the diverse ways we can serve both God and our neighbors. To gain a deeper understanding of practical service, we can turn to the examples set by St. Francis, who beautifully translated Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25:35–40 into tangible actions.
Reflecting on the story of St. Francis and the Leper, we see how embodying the Works of Mercy can lead to profound personal transformation. Born into wealth, Francis initially felt revulsion towards lepers, admitting they were a “bitter thing” to him.
One day, an encounter with a leper shifted Francis’s perspective. Overcoming his initial instinct to recoil, Francis dismounted his horse, approached the leper, offered alms, and embraced and kissed his hand. In his Testament, St. Francis described this act of mercy as transforming what was once “bitter” into “sweetness of soul and body.” By extending compassion to those society rejects, we recognize the shared humanity in others and begin to see each person as created in God’s image. Serving them becomes, in essence, serving Him.
Matthew 5:43–45: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Service isn’t limited to those who are easily loved or accepted; it extends even to our enemies. The narrative of St. Francis and the Sultan further illustrates this. During the Fifth Crusade in 1219, Francis journeyed to Egypt, amidst the conflict between Crusaders and Muslims. Driven by his faith, he crossed into the Muslim camp to meet Sultan Malik al-Kāmil.
The Sultan, despite advice to harm Francis for his Christian preaching, welcomed him and engaged in respectful dialogue about their faiths. Impressed by Francis’s devotion, the Sultan ensured his safe return. Francis, in turn, developed a deep admiration for the Sultan’s faith and gained a new appreciation for prayer and the vastness of God’s majesty.
This story underscores that peace, both inner and outer, begins with reaching out to the “other,” to those different from ourselves. Recognizing the divine presence within all people compels us to initiate conversations, to learn from different perspectives, and to work towards positive change in ourselves and the world.
First Corinthians 12:4–7: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Our individual talents also offer avenues for serving others and, consequently, serving God. We are each endowed with unique gifts, meant to be shared within a community. This sharing not only enriches the lives of others but also brings fullness to our own lives. The Franciscan tradition emphasizes serving the common good through presence and connection with one another and with all of creation.
St. Francis’s profound connection with the natural world is exemplified in the tale of St. Francis and the Wolf. In Gubbio, a town plagued by a dangerous wolf, Francis ventured into the wilderness and encountered the animal. He implored the wolf to cease its attacks, promising that the townspeople would provide for its needs. The wolf, remarkably, agreed and lived peacefully among the town until its natural death. As the patron saint of ecology, Francis viewed all of nature as a reflection of God, referring to all creatures and natural phenomena as his “brothers” and “sisters.” Connecting faith to nature is another path to serving God, fostering a deeper awareness of our interconnectedness and bringing us closer to the Creator who fashioned all things out of love.
Practical Ways to Serve God in Daily Life
1 Peter 4:10–11:
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
The empowering truth is that serving God can be woven into almost every aspect of our daily lives when we understand it through the lens of serving others. Inspired by the lessons from St. Francis, here are practical ways to serve God:
- Deepen your involvement in your church, parish, and broader community. Actively participating in your faith community and local area allows you to share your God-given gifts and enrich the lives of those around you. Explore ways to get more involved in church and community initiatives.
- Practice prayerful compassion and care for those in need. Extend practical support – food, time, comfort – to those who are struggling, hungry, or marginalized within your community. Simple acts of kindness can be profound expressions of service.
- Cultivate mindfulness and presence in your daily interactions. In a world filled with distractions, consciously strive to be present and compassionate in your interactions at work, within your family, and throughout your community. Mindful action is a powerful form of service.
- Approach every encounter with respect and curiosity. Recognize the inherent dignity of each person as a child of God. Seek to understand different perspectives, even those that differ from your own, and engage in respectful dialogue.
- Actively advocate for others and reach out to those in need. Go beyond simply existing in the world; be an active force for good. Like Jesus, seek out opportunities to offer your talents and skills to those who need them. Advocate for the vulnerable with those in positions of authority.
- Prioritize care for the most vulnerable members of society. Those with the fewest resources and the least voice often require our service the most urgently. Seek opportunities to mentor children, visit the elderly, and extend kindness to those who are often overlooked.
- Embrace stewardship of all creation. Recognize our interconnectedness with the natural world. Treating God’s creation with respect is a vital way to serve Him, particularly in the face of environmental challenges. Explore ways to live more sustainably and contribute to environmental regeneration.
Serving God is a journey of moving from understanding His will to actively pursuing it through acts of service and advocacy. Just as St. Francis experienced grace when he embraced the leper, we find moments of grace when we extend inclusivity and love to all, even those deemed “outsiders.”
This path isn’t always easy. Prejudices and biases within our communities and even ourselves can create obstacles. We may not be called to confront armies or venture into dangerous wildernesses, but we are called to find the courage to step outside our comfort zones and act with love for God and our neighbor.
If you are already engaged in acts of service, consciously connecting them to your faith can deepen your spiritual life. Conversely, if you seek to strengthen your spiritual life, engaging in good works is essential for integrating faith into your daily experience. Exploring theological studies can provide a framework for connecting Scripture to your actions, relationships, work, and passions, leading to a more integrated, self-aware, and spiritually conscious life, deeply connected to both people and the earth.
The Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology program offers a foundation for understanding and integrating service with a faith tradition rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Franciscan School of Theology believes that each individual’s unique gifts can be channeled into service to God. This program provides a space to reflect on your personal calling to serve God in the world and to discover the joy and fulfillment that God desires for each of us.
