Serve
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Serve Others
Serve Others
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The letter written to the first fruits of the European evangelization which shared a great love for the Apostle and supported his ministry
Though the region was a burgeoning Romans development the members of the church were poor but giving
2 Corinthians 8:1
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
We see here that the service of the church members were not only financial but gave of themselves to the Lord!
Once the believer is free from the constraints of this world they are able to fully follow the path of God!
Perspectives change in regards to material things and wealth, the are seen simply as tools to accomplish the work of God assigned to the saints!
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1 corinthians 4:1-2
The word Steward here means an administrator, one who handles a masters house and household including his wealth and possessions! specifically the house or affairs of a deity - we would say a priest is a steward of God’s house including all of its things
The word is a compound of two words; house and grazing place
Grazing place speaks of a place of provision - literally the place were animals eat
You see we love the priestly role of our relationship with God as we today have come boldly into His presence but we often struggle with surrendering our earthly existence!
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
God gave Abram a choice - get from thy fathers house - was he simply saying move out to you own apartment? No
It meant leaving the security, protection and the support of a future!
it was with this kind of commitment that the people of God gave beyond measure to the ministry of Paul
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let each of you “look out” for the interests of others
The word here Scopay - Denotes one who directs a watchful eye on something! A rifle scope - it intensifies the target and eliminates the surrounding distractions!
It refers to the military role of scout, guard, or spy; to be critically observant
Watching for a purpose and then acting on it - to target to hit
Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
Eze 3:17
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
You see we are to be watchman over the things God has called us to do
Exe 33:6
During the ceremony, the Minister of Planning and Development asked me to stand and said the following:
“ I am invited here today as the VIP guest when in reality Pastor Ken and his team are the VIP guests of this event. I don’t know where you found this kind of Christian who is concerned about the needs of everyone not just their own kind!”
You see…we fulfilled the requirement that Paul laid at the feet of the Philippian church, take care of the needs of others!
To look out - to consider something critically and then hold out a model of correction on the basis of that inspection
Phil
Paul warns of those who seek their own gain
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
Paul reminds them that they should follow his example of service
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
It is living with an eternal perspective that allows the church to accomplish great things for God
2 Corinthians
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Kittle in his Theological Dictionary put it this way
“Thus the one who practices this will mark a critical decision between the eternal and the transitory and keep from what presents itself before the eye because he knows something is better!
I love this verse because it reminds us to consider the needs of those who are not the same kind as us!
Interestingly, the needs of others is the word meaning “others of a different kind”
While we are called to care for each other, we must never forget our responsibility to respond to the needs of those who are yet to join our ranks!