While the concept of serving God might evoke images of formal religious roles, the Bible actually teaches that everyone is called to serve God in their unique way. Serving God isn’t confined to vocation or specific career paths; it extends to all facets of life, influencing our interactions and our place in the world. To truly understand how to serve God, we can look to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the inspiring examples of figures like St. Francis of Assisi.
Understanding What Serving God Truly Means
It’s crucial to first grasp what serving God entails. God, in His omnipotence, lacks nothing. Our prayers and calls are for our needs, not His. Instead, God empowers us for service by gifting us with grace, talents, and passions, enabling us to fulfill His purposes in the world.
Jesus Christ embodies this perfectly. He is the ultimate manifestation of God’s love, dedicating his life to serving others, particularly those marginalized and in need – the poor, the sick, the outcast. His profound love for humanity, recognizing us all as children of God, led him to sacrifice his own life.
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 means emulating Jesus’ life of service to humanity. It’s through service that we genuinely express our love for God, His creation, and each other. Scripture, notably Matthew 25:34–40, clarifies the requirements for serving in Jesus’ name, emphasizing that caring for the most vulnerable is key to 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 Catholicism, serving others is formalized in the Works of Mercy, encompassing both Corporal Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Corporal Works address physical needs, urging us to treat everyone as Christ in disguise through actions like:
- Feeding the hungry
- Giving drink to the thirsty
- Sheltering the homeless
- Visiting the sick
- Visiting prisoners
- Burying the dead
- Giving alms to the poor
Spiritual Works of Mercy, on the other hand, focus on spiritual well-being, guiding us to support ourselves and others spiritually through:
- Counseling the doubtful
- Instructing the ignorant
- Admonishing the sinner (with kindness and earnestness, not judgment)
- Comforting the sorrowful
- Forgiving injuries
- Bearing wrongs patiently
- Praying for the living and the dead
Serving God through serving others embodies the compassion at the heart of Jesus’ teachings. St. Francis of Assisi, following his conversion, dedicated his life to emulating Jesus, urging us to internalize and enact Jesus’ teachings in our daily lives.
Scriptural Insights on Serving God
Scripture offers extensive guidance on diverse ways to serve God and others. The life of St. Francis provides a practical lens through which to understand and implement Jesus’ teachings, especially those in Matthew 25:35–40.
The story of St. Francis and the Leper vividly illustrates the transformative power of living the Works of Mercy. Born into wealth, Francis initially felt revulsion towards lepers, admitting they were a “bitter thing” to him despite giving them alms.
One day, encountering a leper, Francis experienced a profound change. Overcoming his instinct to avoid, he approached the leper, offering not just alms but also an embrace and a kiss of the hand. In his Testament, Francis recounts that this act of mercy transformed the “bitter thing” into a “sweetness of soul and body.” By showing compassion to the marginalized, we recognize the shared humanity in others, understanding that all are made in God’s image, and serving them is 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.
Our service should extend beyond the marginalized to even our enemies. The narrative of St. Francis and the Sultan highlights this. During the Fifth Crusade, Francis journeyed to Egypt, seeking martyrdom amidst the conflict in Damietta. He ventured into the Muslim camp to meet Sultan Malik al-Kāmil.
Despite advice to execute Francis for proselytizing, the Sultan welcomed dialogue about their faiths. Moved by Francis’s devotion, the Sultan ensured his safe return. Francis, in turn, admired the Sultan’s religious commitment and gained a new perspective on prayer and God’s grandeur.
This story underscores that peace, both internal and external, begins with reconciliation with the “other.” Recognizing God’s presence in everyone calls us to engage in conversation, fostering understanding and positive change.
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 unique talents also offer pathways to serve. We are each endowed with different gifts, meant to be shared within our community. This sharing enriches lives and brings fulfillment. The Franciscan tradition encourages serving the common good through presence and care for each other and all creation.
St. Francis’s deep connection to nature is exemplified in the story of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. In Gubbio, facing a wolf terrorizing the town, Francis confronted the beast, persuading it to cease its attacks in exchange for the town’s provision. The wolf lived peacefully among the townspeople until its natural death. As the patron saint of ecology, Francis viewed nature as a reflection of God, referring to all creatures as “brothers” and “sisters.” Connecting faith to nature deepens our connection to God, the creator of all.
5 Practical Ways to Serve God Today
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.
Serving God is intricately linked to serving others, making it an integral part of daily life. Inspired by St. Francis, here are 5 practical ways to serve God:
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Engage Actively in Your Community and Church. Being involved in your local church and community allows you to share your God-given gifts, enriching the lives of those around you. This participation can take many forms, from volunteering time to contributing skills to community projects. Find areas where your passions and talents align with community needs.
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Practice Acts of Charity and Kindness Daily. Serving God can be as simple as incorporating small acts of charity into your everyday routine. This includes donating to food banks, volunteering at shelters, or simply offering a listening ear to someone in need. Focus on providing comfort, support, and resources to those who are marginalized or struggling within your community.
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Cultivate Mindfulness and Presence. In our busy world, it’s easy to become distracted. Serving God requires intentionality and presence in our daily interactions. Practice being mindful in your actions and relationships at work, at home, and in your community. Engage with others with compassion and awareness, seeking to understand their needs and respond thoughtfully.
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Embrace Respect and Seek Reconciliation. Recognize the inherent dignity in every individual as a child of God. Treat everyone with respect, even those with whom you disagree. Actively seek reconciliation in conflicts and misunderstandings, fostering dialogue and understanding across differences. This approach reflects the teachings of Jesus to love even our enemies.
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Advocate for the Vulnerable and Care for Creation. Serving God extends to advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Use your voice and resources to support vulnerable populations and speak out against injustice. Additionally, recognize our role as stewards of God’s creation. Actively engage in practices that protect and regenerate the environment, addressing challenges like climate change with a faith-inspired approach.
Serving God is a journey from understanding His will to taking concrete action. Just as St. Francis experienced grace through embracing the leper, our moments of grace emerge when we embrace inclusivity and compassion, even towards those considered outside societal norms.
This path isn’t always easy. Overcoming personal biases and societal prejudices requires courage and commitment. We may not be called to confront enemy armies or tame wild animals, but we are called to step outside our comfort zones and act justly and lovingly, motivated by our love for God.
Integrating faith into our acts of service deepens our spiritual life. Conversely, engaging in good works is a vital way to bring faith into everyday living. Exploring theological studies can further connect Scripture to our actions, relationships, and passions, fostering a more integrated, spiritually conscious, and connected life.
The Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology program offers a foundation for integrating service with faith, rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the Franciscan tradition. It provides a space to reflect on your calling to serve God and discover deeper joy and fulfillment in aligning your unique gifts with God’s purposes.
