Introduction

“We like being called servants…until someone treats us like one.

We love the language of service. We admire humility. We post about sacrifice. We speak highly of ‘having a servant’s heart.’ We like being seen as helpful, dependable, giving, and selfless. But actual servanthood feels very different when it stops being theoretical.

It’s one thing to choose to serve. It’s another thing entirely to be treated like a servant.

The moment someone interrupts our schedule, overlooks our effort, fails to thank us, speaks to us sharply, expects something from us, or assumes our help instead of praising it, something inside of us reacts. Pride rises to the surface faster than we expected. And in that moment, we often discover that we may have loved the image of servanthood more than the reality of it.

Biblical service is not glamorous.

Jesus washed feet in a room full of men who would fail Him before sunrise. He served Judas even though He knew Judas would betray Him. He was mocked, used, misunderstood, rejected, and ultimately crucified. Yet Philippians 2 says He ‘made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant.’ Not the form of a celebrity. Not the form of a religious personality. A servant.

True service is unusually quiet. Unnoticed. Inconvenient. It rarely gets applause. And maybe that’s why it reveals our hearts so clearly.

Sometimes we serve others while secretly hoping to be admired for it. We want recognition for our humility, appreciation for our sacrifice, and acknowledgment for our goodness. But humility that constantly needs to be noticed is not humility yet.

Jesus said in Matthew 6 not to practice righteousness ‘to be seen by men.’ That warning applies to service too. If serving becomes a platform for self-promotion, we may completely miss the point.

Servants don’t keep score. Servants don’t demand applause. Servants don’t constantly remind everyone of what they have done. Servants simply serve!

That doesn’t mean Biblical service is weakness. Jesus was not weak. It doesn’t mean allowing abuse or pretending boundaries don’t matter. But it does mean surrendering the constant need to protect our ego. It’s not weakness, but meekness—strength under control. And honestly, that may be harder than the work itself.

The truth is, most of us still have more pride in us than we think. I know I do.

We want to be honored while honoring others. We want to be appreciated for our sacrifices. We want the towel around our waist as long as nobody mistakes us for ‘less than.’

But Jesus never called us to admire servanthood from a distance. He called us to embody it. And real servanthood will always cost something.

Maybe the greatest acts of service aren’t the public ones everyone sees, but the hidden moments where pride dies quietly, and nobody applauds. Maybe that is where people become more like Christ…

And when I say maybe, I mean most likely.

Remember, when we serve, it’s because Jesus served, and now we return the gesture. Not when we’re praised for serving. But when we keep serving without needing praise at all.

To serve not with a title, not for status, not for attention, but with a heart prepared for the treatment of a servant, giving God the glory, not us.”

I recently read those words from Keith Stonehart, a gospel preacher. You can find his substack here: https://open.substack.com/pub/keithstonehart/p/agreement-is-not-evidence?r=2p2zj9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

That caught my attention. That hit something in my heart.

Did it hit something in yours?

Our theme this year is simple: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart.” Whether or not you are interested in yearly themes, I hope you will consider this important question:

What does loving God with all our heart have to do with serving one another?

The answer is: everything.

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Serving One Another Is One of the Greatest Expressions of Loving God

One of the clearest ways we demonstrate our love for God is by serving His people.

The apostle John removes any possibility of separating the two. Christians cannot claim to love God while refusing to love and serve their brethren. In fact, John says that the person who claims to love God while hating his brother is a liar (1 John 4:20).

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He answered by giving two. First, love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Second, love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). The two are inseparably connected.

If we truly love God, that love will naturally overflow into how we treat others, especially fellow Christians.

John asked a piercing question:

“Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)

The answer is obvious: it doesn’t.

Love for God is not merely a feeling. It is demonstrated through action. Every time we serve a brother or sister in Christ, we are expressing our love for God in a practical and tangible way.

Jesus went even further in Matthew 25:40 when He taught that what we do for His people is ultimately done for Him.

Serving one another is therefore much more than simply being nice. It is service rendered to Christ Himself.

Perhaps that is why the early church was marked by both devotion to apostolic teaching and active service (Acts 2:42-47). It is also why Jesus devoted one of His final lessons before His death to washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-17).

The Master became the servant.

And He calls us to walk in His footsteps (Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:3-8).

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Serving One Another Puts God’s Love on Display

Service does something remarkable.

It makes the invisible love of God visible.

Jesus told His apostles:

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

The world watches how Christians treat one another.

People see how we forgive one another. They see how we speak about one another. They see how we assist one another during difficult seasons. They see how we provide for needs and sacrifice for each other.

Sometimes the testimony is found in the simplest moments.

At Josh’s football game, we had a large group of family present. I believe the coach even asked, “Who are all these people?”

The answer was simple:

“They are family.”

Love is visible.

People saw the love of Dorcas in Acts 9. They saw her good works and acts of charity. They saw her servant heart.

As Christians shine their lights before others, people notice. Yet the purpose is never to draw attention to ourselves. Jesus said:

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The early Christians stood out because of their extraordinary generosity (Acts 4:32-37). In a world often driven by selfishness, they demonstrated something different.

They demonstrated the love of God.

When we serve one another, we do the same.

What an amazing privilege it is that through our service we get to put God’s love on display for the world to see.

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Serving One Another Builds Up the Body of Christ

Service not only demonstrates love; it strengthens the church.

Acts 9:31 speaks about the church being built up and encouraged. Edification is not merely something we talk about. It is something we actively participate in.

Paul explained in Ephesians 4:11-16 that Christ gave different roles within the church for the purpose of equipping the saints and building up the body. Preachers, teachers, pastors, and deacons all play important roles.

Yet edification is not reserved for a select few.

It requires everyone.

Every Christian has a role in helping others grow stronger in the faith.

Teaching serves the body.

Encouragement serves the body.

Correction serves the body.

Acts of kindness serve the body.

Hospitality serves the body.

Prayer serves the body.

Every act of service contributes to spiritual growth, maturity, unity, and stability.

Paul even urged the Christians in Rome to excel in honoring and serving one another (Romans 12:10-16). Service helps eliminate competition, pride, favoritism, and division.

No wonder Paul could later express confidence in their goodness and ability to help one another (Romans 15:14).

A serving church becomes a stronger church.

Our goal is not simply to stay busy. Our goal is to help one another reach heaven.

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What Does Serving One Another Look Like?

Service comes in many forms.

Physical and Material Service

The New Testament provides numerous examples:

• Feeding hungry brethren (James 2:15-16)
• Providing meals and hospitality (1 Peter 4:9)
• Caring for widows (Acts 6:1-6)
• Opening homes for gatherings of Christians (Romans 16:5)
• Providing lodging for traveling Christians and preachers (3 John 5-8)
• Visiting the sick and helping with practical needs (Acts 9:36-39)

God has blessed many of us materially so we can use those blessings to serve others.

Spiritual Service

Some forms of service address spiritual needs:

• Teaching and admonishing one another (Romans 15:14)
• Rebuking a brother caught in sin (Galatians 6:1)
• Restoring the fallen (James 5:19-20)
• Comforting the discouraged (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• Praying for one another (James 5:16)
• Singing and teaching one another through worship (Colossians 3:16)
• Weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15)

These acts may not always be visible, but they are essential to the health of God’s people.

Other Ways We Serve

The opportunities continue:

• Serving as an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-2)
• Serving as a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8)
• Preaching and teaching (Ephesians 4:12)
• Leading singing
• Writing encouraging notes
• Financially supporting gospel preachers (Philippians 4:15-18)
• Using personal gifts for the benefit of the church (Romans 12:4-8)

Service truly comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Because of that, we should prepare ourselves to serve. We should have room in our schedules, margin in our lives, and resources in our budgets so that when opportunities arise, we are ready.

Most importantly, we should serve because we love God and because He first loved us.

And we should always remember the words of Jesus:

“We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).

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Conclusion

Every Christian has been called to be a servant because every Christian has been called by the gospel.

Service is not optional. It is part of discipleship.

The challenge is not simply to admire servanthood but to practice it.

To serve when it is noticed.

To serve when it is not.

To serve when people are grateful.

To serve when they are not.

To serve because Christ served us first.

Paul summarized it beautifully:

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

May we be people who love God with all our hearts.

And may that love be seen in the way we serve one another.