Suggested Scripture: John 13:1-13

Focal Passage: When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. John 12:12-14 

Some of you may recognize that I borrowed the title of this study from the British sitcom of the same name. It was first televised in the late 70s through the mid 80s. The setting was a department store, and the title was from a greeting the employees used as they approached a customer, “Are You Being Served”? I think the American parallel phrase might be, “May I help you”?

People often look to God in the same manner…as a place to turn only when they have problems. As if He is the department store employee waiting to ask the question when we come into His presence. How may I help you? It’s not that they really feel that way, it just happens…life gets busy…we have work, we have children or grandkids…or both. We go about our daily business, taking care of all of life’s necessities, and then BOOM…calamity comes, and we hit our knees.

Please don’t misunderstand me; that is the first place we should go when we have problems. He wants us to come to Him when we are afraid.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10

But is that the reason for our salvation? Do we accept Jesus as Savior so He can be our personal problem solver? Many Christians live as if they think the job of serving God is for pastors or other church leaders. But God says every member of His family is to minister. In the Bible, the words “servant” and “minister” are synonyms. If you are a Christian, then you are a minister. And our ministry is to serve others.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

I was recently listening to CD study of the book of Revelation by my favorite preacher of all time, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. In it he asked a the following question:

“Is what you are living for worth Christ dying for”?

It hit me like a ton of bricks…what a question! Here’s another one: Why doesn’t God just immediately take us to heaven the minute we accept His Grace…why does He leave us in this chaos? We need look no further than His word for the answer. He leaves us here to fulfill His purposes. God intends for us to minister to others.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Peter 4:10

All around us are people who need Christ…who need to be touched by His love. There’s that neighbor who is sick…that young person who needs encouraging…that elderly person who is lonely, or unable to help himself. And there is that friend who may not know Christ at all.

I often have to remind myself as I’m sure many who are reading this do, we have so much…a roof over our heads, plenty (or too much) to eat…loving families who care for us. But everything we have belongs to the Lord. And we should each use our possessions, gifts, talents or whatever resources we have at hand, to serve others. In doing that, we honor Him and glorify His name. That is why we are here.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45