Galatians:5:13
...serve one another humbly in love.
To serve. To wait on another person. To be of use.
To answer a need. I heard a minister talk about an aspect of service I hadn't
heard before. "Job crafting"-- expanding a job in order to make a
difference and serve others in a beneficial way. In other words, whatever
vocation a job crafter is in, they intentionally look for ways to meet the
needs of fellow employees, and find ways to make a difference at work.
I'm busy at work. But according to Paul in Galatians,
Jesus expects me to take the time to serve. Maybe something as simple as taking a cup
of coffee to an office mate, or sharing a skill with a co-worker. Service is
part of obedience to Christ.
How do I know what someone else needs? Listen,
observe, be aware of my surroundings, and I'll see the needs of people.
Whether you're a stay-at-home mom who takes the
kids to plant flowers for an elderly neighbor, the person in the office who
knows how to unjam the copier and does it with a smile, or a construction
worker who listens to a co-worker at lunch and gives him a word of
encouragement, you make a difference.
The examples may sound obvious, but how many times
do we get caught up in our projects, issues, or problems, and forget the people
around us.
Service requires hearing the message between the
words, seeing changes in attitude, and watching actions of other people. Then
seek a way to help, no matter how small.
Because no service is too small when done with a
caring and open heart.