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…