While the concept of a calling is often associated with clergy or those in religious orders, the Bible actually teaches that every individual is called to serve God in their unique way. This service doesn’t necessarily need to be your primary profession, although your career path can certainly align with your chosen method of service.
Serving God extends to all facets of your existence, influencing your interactions with others and your place in the world. The most effective ways to serve God can be discovered in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and we can draw practical applications for our own lives from the examples set by figures like St. Francis.
Understanding What Serving God Truly Means
To effectively serve God, we must first understand what this entails. God, in His omnipotence, has no needs. We are meant to seek Him in times of need, not the other way around. Instead, God calls us to His service by gifting us with grace, talents, and passions so that we can better fulfill His divine purposes on Earth.
Jesus Christ provides the ultimate example. He was God’s love incarnate, living a life dedicated to serving others, especially those marginalized and in need – the poor, the sick, the outcast, and those neglected by society. Jesus’ profound love for humanity, recognizing us all as children of God, led him to willingly 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, to serve God is to emulate Jesus’ life and ministry by serving humanity. It is through acts of service that we genuinely express our love for God, His creation, and each other. Scripture outlines the requirements for serving in Jesus’ name, particularly in Matthew 25:34–40. Here, Jesus clarifies that caring for the most vulnerable among us is essential 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 Catholicism, serving others is formalized in the Works of Mercy. These are categorized into seven Corporal Works of Mercy addressing physical needs and seven Spiritual Works of Mercy focusing on spiritual well-being.
The Corporal Works of Mercy provide a framework for addressing the tangible, earthly needs of others. They guide us to engage actively in the world, treating every individual as if they were Christ in disguise.
- 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
While Corporal Works focus on physical well-being, the Spiritual Works of Mercy guide us in nurturing spiritual well-being, both in ourselves and others.
- Counsel the doubtful
- Instruct the ignorant
- Admonish the sinner (with kindness and respect)
- Comfort the sorrowful
- Forgive injuries
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Pray for the living and the dead
It’s important to note that “admonishing the sinner” is not about condemnation or judgment, but about offering compassionate guidance and sincere advice.
Serving God through serving others is the core of Jesus’ compassionate teachings. St. Francis dedicated his life after his conversion to following in Jesus’ footsteps, emphasizing the importance of embodying Jesus’ actions in our daily lives.
Scriptural Guidance on Serving God
Scripture offers abundant insights into the diverse ways we can serve both God and our fellow beings. To delve deeper into the essence of service, we can examine the examples set by St. Francis to better understand how to implement Jesus’ teachings from Matthew 25:35–40.
The story of St. Francis and the Leper vividly illustrates how practicing the Works of Mercy can lead to profound personal transformation. Raised in wealth as a merchant’s son, Francis, despite giving alms to lepers, confessed to feeling revulsion and bitterness at their sight, as he wrote in his “Testament”.
One day, prior to his conversion, Francis encountered a leper while riding his horse. His initial instinct would have been to avoid contact. However, this time, he felt a change within him. Francis dismounted, approached the leper, offered alms, embraced him, and kissed his hand. In his Testament, St. Francis recounted that this act of mercy transformed his prior “bitterness” into “sweetness of soul and body.” By offering compassion to those rejected by society, we recognize the shared humanity in others, understanding that all people are created in God’s image and likeness, 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 not only to the marginalized but also to our adversaries. The account of St. Francis and the Sultan exemplifies this. During the Fifth Crusade in 1219, Francis journeyed to Egypt amidst the siege of Damietta. Driven by his belief in martyrdom, Francis ventured into the Muslim camp and sought an audience with Sultan Malik al-Kāmil of Egypt.
The Sultan welcomed St. Francis. Despite advisors urging his execution for preaching conversion away from Islam, the Sultan engaged in dialogue about their faiths with Francis. Moved by Francis’s faith, the Sultan ensured his safe return. Francis, in turn, developed admiration for the Sultan’s devotion and gained a new perspective on prayer and God’s majesty.
This story highlights that the pursuit of peace, encompassing both the absence of violence and inner tranquility, begins with reconciliation with the “other” or outsider. If God resides within each of us, we are called to connect with others and initiate dialogue. Learning from diverse perspectives and experiences empowers us to take action and create positive change for 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.
We can also find inspiration in our inherent talents to serve others. We are each uniquely gifted, and we are called to share these gifts within our communities. This sharing enriches not only the lives of others but also our own, leading to a more fulfilling life. The Franciscan tradition encourages us to serve the common good through presence and care for one another and all of creation.
This stems from St. Francis’ renowned connection to the natural world, as seen in the story of St. Francis and the Wolf. In Gubbio, St. Francis learned of a wolf terrorizing the town, killing livestock and people. Venturing into the wilderness, Francis confronted the wolf, imploring it to cease its attacks in exchange for the town’s promise to regularly feed it. The wolf agreed and 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 and natural elements as his “brothers” and “sisters.” Connecting faith to nature is another avenue to cultivate presence and draw closer to God, the creator of all.
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 encouraging message is that serving God, through serving others, can permeate nearly every aspect of our lives. Drawing from the lessons of St. Francis, we can serve God by:
- Deepening engagement with your church, parish, and wider community. We are all integral parts of the world, and by actively participating and sharing our God-given gifts, we enrich the lives of everyone. Discover how to get more involved in church to find your place.
- Praying for and actively supporting those in need within your community. This involves sharing resources, donating food, volunteering time, and offering comfort, especially to those who are weary, hungry, or marginalized.
- Cultivating mindfulness and presence. Our lives are filled with distractions, making it challenging to bring mindful, compassionate action to our daily routines. Explore opportunities to serve colleagues, family members, and individuals throughout your community with intention.
- Practicing respect and curiosity in all interactions. We are all children of God and deserve respect. We are called to seek reconciliation even with those we disagree with, respecting diverse perspectives.
- Actively reaching out and advocating for others. Merely existing in the world is insufficient; we must be active participants. Emulate Jesus by seeking out those in need and offering your skills and talents. Advocate for the vulnerable who cannot speak for themselves by reaching out to authority figures and those in positions of power.
- Prioritizing care for the most vulnerable. Those with the least often require our service the most urgently. Seek opportunities to teach children, spend time with the elderly, and consistently demonstrate kindness to those frequently overlooked in our society.
- Stewarding all of creation. We are not separate from the world but an integral part of it. Treating God’s creation with respect, especially amidst climate change and ecological challenges, is a vital way to serve God. Explore ways to contribute to environmental regeneration, using resources thoughtfully and carefully.
Serving God is a journey from understanding His will to taking action and becoming advocates for good. Just as St. Francis experienced grace by embracing the leper, our moments of grace lie in embracing inclusivity—welcoming all individuals and identities, even those considered outside societal norms.
This path is not without its challenges. Many biases, taboos, and prejudices are deeply rooted in our communities, governments, and even within religious institutions. We may not be called to venture into enemy camps or predator-filled wildernesses, but we are asked to have the courage to step outside our comfort zones to do what is right, motivated by love for God.
If you are already engaged in service, deepening your connection to faith can enrich your spiritual life. Conversely, if you seek to deepen your spiritual life, engaging in good works is crucial for integrating faith into daily living. Theological studies offer a valuable opportunity to connect Scripture to your actions, relationships, work, and passions. This integration can lead to a more holistic life, fostering self-awareness, spiritual consciousness, and deeper connections with people and the Earth.
The Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology program provides a strong foundation for integrating service with a faith tradition rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. At the Franciscan School of Theology, we believe that each of our unique gifts can be used to serve God. Our program offers a space to reflect on your calling to serve God in the world, leading to joy and fulfillment – which is God’s ultimate desire for us.
