Service

Lessons on Service from the life of Paul (Part 2)

Posted on by Bob Mathews

As mentioned last week, numerous lessons can come from the life of Paul. This week the lessons will continue from the same context we looked at before (Acts 20:17-38). In hopes of helping each of us be better servants for the Lord, another six lessons will be given from this section of Paul’s life.

First, service to God must be with adaptability (v. 20). Now, if you were able to read last weeks blog, you will remember that one of the six lessons was that our service needs to be without compromise. The reasoning behind these two is easy to rectify. We must be adaptable in our approach, style, etc., not in the message that we teach. The Word of God is God’s. We can’t make it something we want it to be to make it easier on people or to make them happy. The adaptability part is where the compassion, understanding, and wisdom come into play. We have to teach the truth, unadulterated, in a way that reaches people wherever they may be in life. That means, as verse twenty gets at, we may have to proclaim the Lord publicly or from one house to another. We have to find people where they are in life and connect them to Christ. That is the true meaning of adaptability. It is not about whatever is simply easiest for us.

Second, service to God must be without partiality (v. 21, 31). God shows no partiality (Gal. 2:6). God doesn’t not care about a person’s background, wealth, status, skin-color, etc. All God desires is that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4). Jesus came into the world for the purpose of saving sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). All have sinned and fallen short (Rom. 3:23). God desires us all to be saved and we all need to be saved because we have all chosen sin at some point in our life. Jesus came to help us all. All truly means ALL! No one gets left out. If we are truly going to serve God, then it must be in the same way that Jesus came to serve, with no partiality.

Third, service to God must be with courage (v. 22-24). The Holy Spirit made Paul aware that every place he went to preach and teach was going to bring struggle and difficulty. He walked the path regardless. He stepped up to the challenge before him and continued to press forward amidst the trials. Joshua tried to teach us a lesson like this as well. He said we must take courage and act like men, meaning face whatever is coming at you with courage and don’t waiver from the truth. On top of that Joshua said to choose this day who you would serve. Will you choose to serve God? Will you serve Him with courage?

Fourth, service to God must be with integrity (v. 33). As a Christian, integrity is one of the most important aspects of your life’s walk. Without integrity, people will look at the things you do in life and say to themselves, “if this is a Christian, why would I ever want to believe in Christ?” Your integrity can sway the minds of those that you try to teach about Christ. It can impact the service you render moot if lacking. Paul did everything possible to maintain his personal and professional integrity as an apostle of Christ. With that said, there is no denying the impact of his service for the Lord. Do you want to make an impact on those around you? Live what you preach everyday.

Fifth, service to God must be with concern for the future (v. 28-32). In these verses, Paul warns the elders from Ephesus what they need to be prepared for. The truth is we all need to be prepared. If our focus is not on the future, why are we even serving? The hope we have is everlasting life with God because of the sacrifice of Christ. We live to serve so that we will be prepared to serve God when we come into the Kingdom. However, it is also a focus on defense and encouragement. Paul tells them to be on guard for yourselves and the flock. He says some will come in and speak perverse things. This means we need to prepare for our earthly future in the sense of preparing ourselves to not be deceived and defend others who people may try to deceive and lure away from Christ. Paul also mentions the word being able to build up also. We are to build each other up in the word of God so that we can defend ourselves and stand firm in the truth when future threats arise. This is  a way that we can serve, by preparing the church and defending it.

Lastly, service to God must be demonstrated (v. 33-35). This may seem odd, but is maybe more significant than one may imagine. Talking about service is a fine thing. Planning service to be done is a great thing. Rolling up your sleeves and doing the work is the real thing. No one is above service to the Lord! We may not all serve in the same way or put in the same amount of time and that is okay. But everyone must find what they can do and actually get involved. Paul showed that he did whatever was needed for the ministry effort or providing for himself. He was willing to work hard for the church. Jesus was willing to work hard to start the church and bring you salvation. What are you willing to work hard for? I pray it is Christ!

Lessons on Service from the Life of Paul

Posted on by Bob Mathews

While countless lessons could be pulled from aspects of Paul’s life, today we will focus on a somewhat short moment shared between Paul and the elders from the Ephesus church (Acts 20:17-38). Paul has been traveling around from one place to the next teaching the message of Christ. While in Miletus, he sent for the elders, before starting his journey towards Jerusalem. In this short visit, Paul had a touching and powerful moment with those leaders that conveys some amazing lessons on what it means serve the Lord and how we ought to do so. Again, there are more lessons that could likely be pulled even from this section, but I would like to share with you six lessons that should hold meaning if you have an earnest desire to serve the Lord.

First, working for God needs a daily routine (v. 18). From the moment Paul got to the mission field he began to work. Serving God by preaching and teaching the Christ was something he made a prominent part of his day-to-day. We all typically have routines that we follow. Have you made service for Christ part of your routine? Is it something that is even important enough to make the list of things to do? Paul definitely thought it was! Hopefully we will follow that lesson from him.

Second, we are to serve with humility (v. 19).  While Paul had probably the most that he could boast about above anyone else, he constantly tries to remind us that our service is to God. It is about Him, not us. As Jesus taught in the Gospel of Matthew, those who wish to be seen by men (for the praises of men) will have there reward in full and will receive nothing from God. If we make it about ourselves or toot our own horn when we do something, we are not properly serving in a way that will bring glory to or shine a light on God who is the one that all people actually need.

Third, service to God must be with compassion (v. 19, 31). A phrase you may notice in both those verses is, “with tears.” It doesn’t mean they were just walking around blubbering all the time about the difficulties of life. It means that they had true love and  real compassion for the work they were doing and the people they were working with. Paul cared about the lost souls and desired for them to find Christ. He also cared for those who already found Christ. The truth is difficult times came and Paul showed compassion for those that struggled and because of it better built them up in Christ by showing them the love of Christ. Have we been doing a great job of showing that love and compassion to those inside and outside of Christ today? If you say or think not, then be the changing force that you can be. Start following in the footsteps of Christ and Paul and show the love and compassion that we all need and be example for people to follow today.

Fourth, service to God must be done in spite of trials (v. 19). As mentioned before we all go through difficulties in life. That does not mean that your struggles are invalid, but means that even with the struggles we press on in our service to God. Paul dealt with many difficulties often times brought on by plots against him from the Jews as mentioned in this verse. However, Paul never let those hard times distract from his purpose or define his character. He forged ahead serving every day and in every city he went through, even while, each city brought more strife on him (v. 23). But also know this, Paul was not alone in his work and neither are you. There are many brothers and sisters in Christ that are forging along serving next to you, whether in the flesh or in the spirit. Let them or us be a helping hand to lift you up when needed. We are here to be of service for the Lord together!

Fifth, service to God must be without compromise (v. 20, 26-27). This may be a very unpopular view among many, but regardless, it is the lesson conveyed to us by Paul. We live in a world full of compromise, but when it comes to God’s Word Paul says that he spoke it all. Twice he conveys in those verses that he did not shrink back from teaching or declaring the whole purpose of God. Because of this, he claims that he is innocent of the blood of all men. The significance in that is great. If we compromise God’s Word and don’t teach it fully and accurately, then we are in danger of being guilty of their blood. This doesn’t mean that we are not to be compassionate, loving, and understanding when we teach. However, it does mean that we cannot decide to say something God calls a sin is okay now. Paul understands that he is dealing with God’s Word not his own. We need to learn the same lesson in our own lives regardless of how culture may change or pull on us.

Sixth, service to God must be done with optimism and a positive attitude (v. 20, 32). Now, before you go saying, “that’s a bit of a stretch,” hear me out. Paul talks about declaring things that are profitable, meaning anything that brings good to your life…that being Christ. You have probably heard the old saying, “you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” That old saying is part of the lesson here. If we carry ourselves  with a look of woe-is-me or depressed in countenance and outlook, how is that going to entice or attract someone to Christ. If we don’t live our lives every day like we actually have the best thing we could ever ask for, then people will find it hard to believe that Jesus is actually important or desirable to their lives. As Christians, we believe in the grace and mercy of God to the point that we can have an eternal life with Him in heaven. That is an extremely positive thing and we should always do our best to convey our Christian life  that way.

I pray that these lessons on service will be helpful to you in your own Christian walk. Paul has always been a great example of service because he focuses on being like Christ. Let’s follow in his footsteps and serve our God each and every day with humility, compassion, in spite of struggles, without compromise, and with an optimistic and positive attitude. May the Lord bless you all!