Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living

 

by Charles R. Swindoll
1981

 

Recently I taught on the subject of “serving within church-life” at a women’s bible study.

What an amazing and encouraging topic.

 

As part of my prep-work I read Chuck Swindoll’s book, Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living.

A book that I had always meant to read, but had, in fact, left on our bookshelf untouched for over 10 years.

 

Check that one off my list.

 

Did I miss out by not reading it those many years ago?
Most certainly.

I found Improving Your Serve to be a really useful book.

Though not so much from a teaching perspective,

More from a whole life perspective.

Mr. Swindoll didn’t just stick to servanthood within the Church, instead he stressed it as an integral part of our Christian walk.

 
And, wonder of all wonders,

Did you know that unselfish living does not come naturally?

 
Really!

In my life, nothing demonstrates this insight more than motherhood:

I grumble when I am late out the door and my child needs help with a zipper.

I grumble when I am just settling in to my coffee and am called to bathroom duty.

I grumble when I am looking for a little peace and a recess mis-adventure needs reporting.

 

And why do I grumble?
Only one reason,

I am selfish and want things to proceed my way.
In my own timing.

 
But, just as Jesus came to be a servant to all, so am I called.

Mr. Swindoll says, “[God] is engaged in building into His people the same serving and giving qualities that characterized His Son.”

What a difficult task.
What an impossible task.

 

It’s a good thing that God is the God of impossibilities.

 

So,

What does a servant look like?
What does a servant act like?

What makes someone a servant?

 

-         Transparency, willing to accept responsibility

-         Humility, giving the credit to God

-         Accountability, willing to be confronted

-         Sensitivity, awareness of another’s need

-         Honesty, absolute integrity

-         Giver, in anonymity and personally

-         Self-denial, it’s not always easy

-         Forgiver, to not is hypocritical

-         Forgetter, don’t keep score

-         Vulnerability, accept help and be teachable

-         Determination, persevere

-         Renewed mind, think differently than the world

-         Gentleness, strength under control

-         Hunger for righteousness, long to be filled by God

-         Peacemaker, preserve unity and build up

And the really biggies,

SEE OTHERS AS CHRIST SEES THEM.
NO ACT OF SERVICE IS TOO SMALL.


This certainly is not me most, if not all, days.

This list is huge and is at the outer reaches of impossibility. 

It’s a good thing I am not left to live it alone.

When I open up myself to the Lord, place my life at His feet, and pick up my cross,  

He will teach me these things.
The Holy Spirit will work in me.

Everything I experience in life God will use and has designed to prepare me for serving others more effectively.

Everything.

 
Like a potter with a fresh lump of cold, damp clay,
So am I in His hands.

So are you.

Isaiah 64:8, “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

 

 

Reading on…

Reshaping It All

by Candace Cameron Bure with Darlene Schacht
2011

 

Having grown up watching Candace Cameron on the family sitcom, Full House, it was only natural that I be curious about her book.

Especially as I’d been told she was a Christian.

 

Basically, Reshaping It All is about self-discipline.

Physical, emotional and spiritual.

 

In all aspects of life.

 

Reading about self-discipline is always a good thing for me as there are areas in my life where I am in want.

Think Easter.

Think Easter Crème Eggs.

Enough said.

 

So, what were the take-home messages for me in this book?

 

“…hard work [is] not only a prerequisite for success but…it [is] also a prerequisite for strong character. Struggling for the things we get teaches us the all-important lesson of self-discipline while it strengthens our body and spirit.” (pg 37)

 

I often struggle with hard work.

And, hard work that needs time?

Forget it!

 

If I am being honest, I am all about instant gratification and little work.

Not that I consider myself lazy, a mom of four busy kids has no time to be lazy, but for instance: I am scheduled to run a “5 k” in a few months, and have I started training?

No!

Time is certainly a factor, but so is self-discipline. Frankly, I am not excited about the effort involved!

 

So, why don’t I practice self-discipline?
(Even if it means the "lack of" will produce a collapse at the “3 k” mark.)  

It’s easier not to - even if I know that certain undesirable (ie, collapse at the “3 k” mark) outcomes are inevitable.  

 

Pick your area: exercise, sleep, food, spending or daily devotions.

Or Easter Crème Eggs.

 

How are you with self-discipline?

 

The Bible speaks very clearly about this elusive yet desirable quality,

Proverbs 10:4, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

 

A life of self-discipline not only produces self-respect but also respect from others.

Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”

 

Self-control = self-discipline.

 

Really,
What is the big deal if a city has broken walls?

Back in the day, cities had thick walls to provide protection from enemies, humans and animals alike.

If the walls were broken, the enemy could get in to destroy the city and its people.

 

Without self-discipline, how am I like a broken city?

 

From what I can tell, self-discipline provides protection.

Protection from wrong choices, wrong thoughts, and wrong actions.

 

When the walls of self-discipline are broken or missing, I can be destroyed.

To make matters worse,

When I am not self-disciplined in the lesser areas of my life, I am probably not self-disciplined in my relationship with God.

 
And, if I am not self-disciplined in this relationship, I won’t have the means to fight.

With no walls and no weapons,

I am not protected.

Like the city,

My heart will be destroyed.

Maybe not right away, but remember the inevitable, undesirable outcomes?

Heady stuff.

 

Reading on…