1 Peter 4:10
Living for God
Each of you should use your gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Serving can be different for every person, but in the end make sure you do this with your heart in the right place. God wants you to serve but you should do so with the intent of serving others and not yourself. Selflessness is a rare thing in today's society. Social media is filled with people doing good deeds, but make sure they have video to prove it. The world would want you to server and be noticed for doing so. God wants you to serve without recognition, without something in return.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
The poor may not necessarily mean "without money". It could be poor in faith, poor in health, poor in education, and so on. My point is that we should serve others as we see a need. It could be something as small as when you see a friend fall, help them up. Ask them if they are OK. In contrast, if you see an enemy fall, would you do the same? Sure, you may chuckle a little on the inside, as that is human nature, but that isn't what you were charged to do. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven". Put aside all hate for others, deny yourself, and serve God by serving others.
So, why do we hesitate to serve others? I'd have to say on this one it's hesitation because it doesn't fit our personal plan. "I'm too busy to...", "I'm afraid of...", I don't know if I have the time to...", and so on. The excuses we make to ourselves resonate the loudest in our minds until we realize that God's plan for us is not to serve ourselves. In all things we must consider serving Him. In Matthew 16:24-26 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
Closing point for today:
Serve others in a way that honors God.