Spiritual Disciplines: Service
‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’ (John 13: 14-15).
We are all familiar with those requests for more to ‘serve on a team’ at church, whether in Sunday School or with Flower/Cleaning rota. However, these can hinder our understanding of the spiritual discipline of service.
The discipline of service involves learning from Jesus’ example, when He washed the disciples’ feet. Like His disciples, we are all called to take the place of a servant and be willing to serve those around us. Richard Foster in ‘Celebration of Discipline’ contrasts ‘self-righteous service’, human effort wanting to impress others and be rewarded, with ‘true service’, which is rooted in our relationship with Jesus and delights in the service itself.
In his book, Richard Foster highlights the value of small, everyday sacrificial acts of service which flow from the place of being a servant: ‘service is not a list of things to do, though in it we discover things to do. It is not a code of ethics, but a way of living.’ He goes on to highlight a number of acts of service, including: hiddenness (working behind the scenes); small acts of service; guarding the reputation of others; being willing to be served ourselves; practising hospitality; listening and bearing the burdens of each other. We need to pray for wisdom and discernment, so that we know when to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to serving. If we say ‘yes’ too much we can easily find ourselves becoming bitter or burned out!
Why not make it your prayer each morning: ‘Lord Jesus, if it would please You, bring me someone today who I can serve?’
‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’ (John 13: 14-15).
We are all familiar with those requests for more to ‘serve on a team’ at church, whether in Sunday School or with Flower/Cleaning rota. However, these can hinder our understanding of the spiritual discipline of service.
The discipline of service involves learning from Jesus’ example, when He washed the disciples’ feet. Like His disciples, we are all called to take the place of a servant and be willing to serve those around us. Richard Foster in ‘Celebration of Discipline’ contrasts ‘self-righteous service’, human effort wanting to impress others and be rewarded, with ‘true service’, which is rooted in our relationship with Jesus and delights in the service itself.
In his book, Richard Foster highlights the value of small, everyday sacrificial acts of service which flow from the place of being a servant: ‘service is not a list of things to do, though in it we discover things to do. It is not a code of ethics, but a way of living.’ He goes on to highlight a number of acts of service, including: hiddenness (working behind the scenes); small acts of service; guarding the reputation of others; being willing to be served ourselves; practising hospitality; listening and bearing the burdens of each other. We need to pray for wisdom and discernment, so that we know when to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to serving. If we say ‘yes’ too much we can easily find ourselves becoming bitter or burned out!
Why not make it your prayer each morning: ‘Lord Jesus, if it would please You, bring me someone today who I can serve?’
