As the holiday season is approaching, we all spend more time with our friends and families. When we visit family or friends, we often look forward to having a good time, thinking about how the visit will benefit us. What if we change our thinking to how we can serve them rather than what we can get from them. Often, we think serving others means helping at church or volunteering with a nonprofit organization, etc. those are good and important. But what if God is calling us to serve the people closest to us, starting with our family and friends?
Serving can look like putting others interests above ours, even if it feels uncomfortable. According to Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (New International Version). When our focus shifts toward serving our family and friends without expecting anything in return it’s easier to stay at peace even when things don’t go our way.
In the end, our goal is to be a blessing to others so they can feel loved. It’s really about treating people the way we want to be treated. According to Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (New American Standard Bible). A verse from the sermon at church this weekend really stuck with me, it reminded me that serving others can actually refresh our own hearts. I’ve found in my own life that when I choose to serve others, even when it’s difficult, I’m often the one who ends up feeling blessed. According to Proverbs 11:25, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (New International Version).
