Billie Silvey
God's Call to
Service
Service
God made us, and he made us for a purpose. “For we are Godâ
€™s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do� (Ephesians 2:10).
Service isn’t merely a civic or social obligation. It’s a moral
necessity. “Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share� (1 Timothy 6:
16). We serve in response to all that God has done for us. â
€œFreely you have received, freely giveâ€� (Matthew 10:8).
During all the talk about health care, I’ve been impressed with
just how selfish we are. How often have I heard the words, “I
have a really good health care plan; I don’t want anything to
change.� Or “I never realized how bad things were until I
lost my insurance or I got sick or my child got sick or my husband
had a stroke.� Or “I don’t care what they do, as long as
they don’t touch my social security.�
But what about all those people who don’t have health care, or
who will be dropped as soon as they get a serious injury or illness,
or who have a preexisting condition? What about other people?
God put us together in society to care about each other. “Serve
one another in love� (Galatians 5:13). “Each of you should
look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others� (Philippians 2:4).
God put us in a democracy where we can vote for what we think is
best. But since when does "best" mean only what works for us?
Let’s use the power that is ours in a free democracy to vote for
policies that are good for everyone, not just us and ours.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save him?� (James 2:14). “If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need [of
health care, for instance] but has no pity on him, how can the love
of God be in him?� (I John 3:17).
As we pray for God’s kingdom to come and for him to reign in
our hearts here on earth as he does in heaven, we are asking that he
lead us to look out for each other. That’s his will. â
€œTherefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers�
(Galatians 6:10). “And do not forget to do good and to share
with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased� (Hebrews
13:16).
Jesus taught it. “Let your light shine before men,â€� he said, â
€œthat they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven� (Matthew 5:16).
The church was set up to encourage it. “It was he who gave
some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people
for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upâ
€� (Ephesians 4:11-12).
And each of us as individuals should promote it. “Let us
consider how we may spur one another toward love and good
deeds.�
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows [the weakest in society] in
their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world
[selfishness or greed]� (James 1:27)
We'll be richly rewarded for it. “God will give to each person
according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in
doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal
life� (Romans 2:6-7).
€™s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do� (Ephesians 2:10).
Service isn’t merely a civic or social obligation. It’s a moral
necessity. “Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share� (1 Timothy 6:
16). We serve in response to all that God has done for us. â
€œFreely you have received, freely giveâ€� (Matthew 10:8).
During all the talk about health care, I’ve been impressed with
just how selfish we are. How often have I heard the words, “I
have a really good health care plan; I don’t want anything to
change.� Or “I never realized how bad things were until I
lost my insurance or I got sick or my child got sick or my husband
had a stroke.� Or “I don’t care what they do, as long as
they don’t touch my social security.�
But what about all those people who don’t have health care, or
who will be dropped as soon as they get a serious injury or illness,
or who have a preexisting condition? What about other people?
God put us together in society to care about each other. “Serve
one another in love� (Galatians 5:13). “Each of you should
look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others� (Philippians 2:4).
God put us in a democracy where we can vote for what we think is
best. But since when does "best" mean only what works for us?
Let’s use the power that is ours in a free democracy to vote for
policies that are good for everyone, not just us and ours.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save him?� (James 2:14). “If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need [of
health care, for instance] but has no pity on him, how can the love
of God be in him?� (I John 3:17).
As we pray for God’s kingdom to come and for him to reign in
our hearts here on earth as he does in heaven, we are asking that he
lead us to look out for each other. That’s his will. â
€œTherefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers�
(Galatians 6:10). “And do not forget to do good and to share
with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased� (Hebrews
13:16).
Jesus taught it. “Let your light shine before men,â€� he said, â
€œthat they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven� (Matthew 5:16).
The church was set up to encourage it. “It was he who gave
some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people
for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upâ
€� (Ephesians 4:11-12).
And each of us as individuals should promote it. “Let us
consider how we may spur one another toward love and good
deeds.�
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows [the weakest in society] in
their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world
[selfishness or greed]� (James 1:27)
We'll be richly rewarded for it. “God will give to each person
according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in
doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal
life� (Romans 2:6-7).
October 2009