Jesus said in Matthew 23:11, "he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." Our Lord and Master uses His servants to touch other lives. Our hands and mind are God's instruments of touch. We are to give comfort to those in pain, to lift up those in despair, to give hope to the weary and depressed. Christ works through us to bring others to Him. Therefore, we are to be His servants in all walks of our lives-where we live, work, and all those with whom we come in contact.
Christians are to serve others. Jesus taught by His example the importance of being a servant in John 13. After Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, He spoke these words, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." He shows that no one is too high or too good to perform a service no matter how lowly. When we serve it has a positive influence on others. And we are the light of the world for the cause of Christ.
In Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus shows some ways to serve: feed the hungry, take care of strangers, cloth the needy, visit the sick and those in prison. In rendering this service, we are serving Christ.
We know as Christians that our first responsibility to mankind is to serve and take care of our family. We are to be servants of our Christian brothers and sisters; to our neighbors and friends. We need to reach out beyond our circle of friends to be a servant of those who have a need to hear the Good News.
We can serve through the words we speak; through a note of encouragement, a phone call, and by showing love and kindness through good deeds. As Christians we are to help bear the burdens of one another. One of the greatest things we can do for others is to pray for them. We must sacrifice time and possessions in order to serve. But it has its reward "...for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Corinthians 15:58. We must be focused on the great, loving Master we serve and His promise to reward.