A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE (3)

“Whoever desires to become GREAT among you, let him be your SERVANT” – Matthew 20:26

SERVICE to God and Humanity is essential to a LIFE of SIGNIFICANCE: “Whoever desires to become GREAT among you, let him be your SERVANT” (v.26). Service is the secret to Greatness. True greatness comes from servanthood, not from living for self. The greatest leaders are those who serve the most. To be first or significant in life, we must be ready to SERVE: “And whoever desires to be FIRST among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE, and to give His life a ransom for many” (vv.27-28).

The life of Service is a Life of Significance. Serving is one of life’s key purposes. Without service, any supposed purpose in life is hollow. We were created and saved to serve. Until we learn how to serve, we’re not really living – just existing. Our Lord Jesus is our Model of Service: “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE, and to GIVE His LIFE a ransom for many” (v.28). Serving is GIVING. Serving is SHARING. Serving makes us more like Jesus.  We make a living by what we get; but we make a LIFE by what we GIVE: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk.8:35).

We are to serve God and humanity. When we do something that makes someone else’s life better in some way, we’re serving God: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Mt.25:40). Serving God by serving others is the highest use of our time if we want to make significant impact and leave a legacy. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Our service to the Lord is never wasted. Selfishness impoverishes; Service enriches!

Hebrews 12:28 instructs that we “serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear.” Acceptable Service flows from Gratitude, Gladness, and Passion or Fervency. Gratitude is the best motivator for service – Gratitude for Who God is and what He’s done for us; not out of a sense of duty, guilt, coercion or pressure. God made us and saved us. Why wouldn’t we serve Him? Psalm 100:2b says, “Serve the Lord with GLADNESS.” Romans 12:11 says: “Not lagging in diligence, FERVENT in spirit, SERVING the Lord.” Also, we must serve God continually. The Gentile King, Darius, said concerning Daaniel: “Your God Whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” (Dan.6:6).

God rewards Service with Unlimited Blessings, Prosperity, Pleasures, and Distinction (Exo.23:25; Job 36:11; Mal.3:17). Service is the master key to Greatness and a Life of Significance.