I wonder sometimes why do we do the things we do. Yesterday I had the opportunity to work alongside a group of volunteers from all over Texas at our summer camp in Lake Whitney. We were given the task of doing maybe what others may call menial tasks and there was not timetable on when we were going to finish. Just set up bunk beds, carry mattresses to them when done and insulate the cabins... In a day that turned out to be hotter by the hour and with some dust flying around, these volunteers basically gave it their all until they were done, 11 hours later.
And so, I started thinking, what moves people to serve and others to decline? Is it the kind of work? Is it their availability? Is it their desires? I know that some are really busy that they probably could not make the trip to the location. Some others maybe had something scheduled that they could not come. Some others may just say no and that is it... But what makes one accept invitations to volunteer and work hard for more than 10 hours and do it gladly?
I know that the mission of the call can be a very convincing reason (you have committed to the church, to an organization and you just simply feel compelled to do it because that is what you have signed for). Another could be vision (you believe in the cause and will do anything you are asked not because you have to but because you want to and support everything that comes from that vision). Another would be peer pressure (you know, you just do it because you were invited and everyone is volunteering so it seems that its the right thing to do at that moment, but maybe if your friends are not there, maybe you would not do it).
So, why did these volunteers do what they did? I believe is the nature of our vision that comes straight from our Master Jesus Christ. Let me show you:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
Service for a Christian is supposed to be second nature!!! We many times forget that we are followers of our Master and think that we should "lord it over them" and we "exercise authority over them". We forget that and spend time thinking of ways to avoid service, maybe dreaming of a day when someone would just do everything that we ask them without us moving a finger to help. Many of us forget that we are called to serve, to walk the extra mile, to turn the other cheek, etc...We don't want to do that, because our nature and our culture say that we need to be served...it is a "me, me, me" attitude that does not have service in mind!!!
Service for a Christian, follower of the Master Jesus Christ does the kinds of things that happened yesterday with this group of volunteers. A group of them even mentioned that if more was needed, they could come again and do more work!!! They would sacrifice another day and their time and work and help again if called upon!!! Now, that is a servant!!!
Why do we volunteer/serve then? Think about it for a moment and ask God to help you as you meditate on the meaning of being a servant...
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