What is service? Service is the carrying out of God's purpose for humankind according to his will and good pleasure. It is working toward the accomplishment of God's plan for his creation as faithful servants of God. As servants of God, believers are to serve one another and are to be co-rulers over the rest of God's creation. God did not put us on this earth with nothing to do. The Garden of Eden wasn't a retirement community. God intentionally made the world unformed to give man the privilege of accomplishing work for God. We saw in the Original Mandate that God gave tasks for humans to accomplish. Adam also had to work the ground and name the animals. Man was created with a service capacity in mind.
Service is not merely doing things. As the definition says, we must be doing things that carry out our purpose, which goes to accomplish God's Mission. Service is accomplishing the work given to us by God; to fill and civilize the earth. As with the garden, the garden was created with man in mind to work it so that it may grow. In the same way, the earth was created with man in mind to give it form, creating a civilization that worships and glorifies God.
Serving God is not just working in a ministry organization or evangelism. Farming was a service God purposed to Adam. Your career as an accountant, brain surgeon, or astronaut can serve God.
What is Service? Service is accomplishing the tasks God laid out for us. Through this God is glorified, which is God's Mission.
Interact with Scripture/QuestionsRead Gen. 2:4-7. Why was there no growth (vs. 5)?
Read 1 Tim 1:12-17.
What is Paul thankful for, (specifically the last phrase in vs. 12)?
What are the acts of service that you have been called into?
How are you thankful for that?
What is God teaching about himself in 1 Tim 1:12-17?
Prayer: Pray for wisdom to understand what service God has called you for.
Scripture ReferencesGen 2:4-7 [4] This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-- [5] and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, [6] but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-- [7] the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
1 Tim 1:[12] I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. [13] Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. [14] The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
[15] Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. [16] But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. [17] Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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