Serving others as an act of spiritual discipline
This is Felicia Ferguson with Christian Mix 106, helping you build faith for the journey.
Service as a spiritual discipline grows humility. But this type of service is hidden. There is no recognition, no fame, and no honor. The flesh will war against it, but it is a fight you must wage and win to grow. We must crucify our flesh, our pride and arrogance because our flesh is the enemy of humility. Serving others without acknowledgment will end up freeing us. People we once looked at with envy, we’ll now see with compassion. A new sense of confidence and a zeal for living will transform us and we’ll become more aware of God’s love for us and others.
In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says there are six different types of service and they are probably nothing like you’d expect. The six are: being served, common courtesy, hospitality, listening, bearing another’s burdens, and sharing the word of life.
Being served is a true act of humility on our part. It requires us to submit to someone else and recognize we are under kingdom authority. We must release our innate independence and self-sufficiency and allow someone else to do something for us. When the act of service is complete, our thoughts shouldn’t go to how do we repay this kindness. Rather we must again humble ourselves and simple be thankful. For those of us who have only ourselves to rely on most days, this spiritual discipline is difficult. We don’t want to be seen as needy or out of control. But it is important to allow others to be blessed through ministering to us.
The second act of service is simple common courtesy toward others. This practice is unfortunately in very short supply these days. Social media has taught us to verbally hit first or turn to snark for our rebuttals, protecting ourselves from an online attack. But the greater gift is in being courteous. In treating others kindly, we affirm their worth as human beings and as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The third act of service is hospitality, or inviting others into our homes and activities. Despite our online connectedness, Americans are lonelier than ever. Practicing the spiritual discipline of hospitality provides an opportunity to be together and share life. Humans were created for community and hospitality opens the door to that community.
Listening is the fourth act of service and to listen as a spiritual discipline means we also need patience. Instead of being the first to speak or always having an answer to fix another person’s problem, we need to simply be a willing ear, serving the other person by being quiet and allowing them space to speak. Oftentimes, silence is the best answer to the issue.
Bearing another’s burdens dovetails with listening as a spiritual discipline. It’s walking with another person through their trials. Being a friend and a support during trials and hard times.
The final act of service as a spiritual discipline is sharing the gospel. What is a better service than giving someone the truth about eternal life?
The spiritual discipline of service may have surprised you. But each act is readily accomplished if we simply set aside our personal egos and obligations and do as Jesus said, valuing others above ourselves.
This is Felicia Ferguson. Thanks for listening to Christian Mix 106.
