It is truly wonderful to consider that the almighty God loves us and rejoices when we serve Him. He accepts our service as a fragrant offering and delights in seeing us grow in Him, following the example of service left to us by Jesus.
God deserves our service, but what are the specific reasons why we should serve Him? Let’s explore some of them.
1. He is Our Creator and Deserves Our Service
God created everything and everyone, humanity and all that exists in this world. Thanks to Him, we are here and possess everything we have. We owe Him our very lives, so serving Him appears to be the most fitting response.
Service to God is voluntary. It should spring from a heart filled with gratitude and awe at the Creator’s greatness and the infinite love He has for us. We serve God not only through our work in religious contexts but in everything we do each day, striving to please Him and seeking opportunities to share His love with others.
2. Serving God Helps Us Understand Who We Are and Our Purpose
When we serve God, we develop a deeper understanding of who He is and who we are in relation to Him. He is our Father who cares for us, and we respond to that care with gratitude, joy, and love. He is our provider, our Savior, our King. Recognizing His greatness fuels our desire to serve Him and live for Him.
God created us for a relationship with Him. He desires to be our friend, to give us His love, and to care for us. Our service to the Father opens the door for Him to pour out more blessings upon us, as serving Him strengthens our bonds of love and friendship with Him.
3. As We Serve God, We Bless Those Around Us
We serve God when we serve others. In His Word, God calls us to love others and treat them as we wish to be treated. This kind and compassionate treatment of our neighbors glorifies God.
Furthermore, when we decide to live for the Lord, all our actions become an offering to Him. If we do everything wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for men, we will do everything with excellence, dedication, and love. This will bring blessings to our family, our coworkers, our neighbors, and even ourselves.
4. We Use Our Gifts When We Serve God
God has given each of us at least one gift that we can use to serve Him and contribute to the building up of the church. This gift, divinely bestowed upon us, is something that makes us feel fulfilled and purposeful.
Perhaps you enjoy helping others or supporting them through difficult times. Maybe you love to sing or prepare meals for the sick. Or perhaps you are passionate about teaching or have a knack for organizing spaces. Whatever your gift may be, God granted it to you as a present to be used in serving Him and all those around you. Use your gifts for God’s glory.
5. We Develop Humility When We Serve God and Others
Serving God and others requires a degree of humility. When we serve God, we act to please Him, acknowledging that He deserves what we offer. For instance, we serve God through our worship, our praise, and by using the resources He provides to expand His kingdom.
When we help those who are ill or bring groceries to someone who is unemployed, we are serving that person by showing them God’s love. Serving God and others pushes us beyond our comfort zones. It leads us to focus on God and other people, setting aside our own desires and needs. Therefore, we can say that serving helps us cultivate humility.
6. Serving God Keeps Us Focused on Him and Close to Him
One of the significant advantages of serving God is that it frequently prompts us to ask, “Lord, what do you want from me? What do you want me to do today?” Instead of solely focusing on our own desires, we begin to converse with God about how we should use our time, our gifts, and our resources.
As we yearn for God’s direction to serve Him more effectively, we draw closer to Him. We speak to Him in prayer more often, we read the Bible more seeking His will. Serving God fosters spiritual growth because it leads us to seek God’s will instead of pursuing our own inclinations.
7. There is Reward for Those Who Serve God
Everything we do in service to God and others will be rewarded, even if we do it selflessly. In fact, our focus should be on God and others, not on the reward we will receive. Matthew 25:31-40 is a valuable passage to reflect on regarding service to God and others.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36, NIV)
Every act of service to others is an act of service we perform for God. And each of these actions will be rewarded in eternity. Let us seek opportunities to serve God and others wholeheartedly.
Serve God wholeheartedly every day of your life.
Serve God wholeheartedly every day of your life.
