Should Our Servitude Be Selective?

"Should our servitude be selective?"

By that, I mean when the word of God clearly instructed us over and over again did that mean we can thoughtlessly pick and choose when we want to be generous and when we want to be selfish? I attended a blood drive recently and heard accounts of several "Christians" speak of how... they "just don't do that."

What exactly does that mean?

I understand if you have a medical condition or if you've been out of the country and they won't let you, but are there really any justifiable, BIBLICAL reasons? Of course not! We must learn to serve all in every way we can.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:33b-35)

If someone was passing around a bucket for money for a child with cancer, we would look at our brother/sister in Christ like they were crazy if they said "I have it, but I just don't do that." If you're a mechanic, with ample time on your hands and the means to change a tire and you see someone with a flat after class, would you really just say "I have all of the tools, but I just don't do that"?

Now, I am far from perfect and my level of servitude could definitely use an upgrade. So don't think I'm just tossing out fire and brimstone; this is also a "self check". Many chances have passed me by in my life where I could have served my brother or sister, and in return I would have be serving the God I so truly adore. But that's the beauty of the God we serve; He's a God of second chances! No single scripture says those exact words, but the Bible is filled with accounts of God watching us turn away from Him, or love Him half-heartedly and still come to our rescue when we are in need. He is patient with us and smiles when we stop, reevaluate our lives and serve others.

Now, this does not always mean we are serving financially. I know I mentioned in my last blogs ways to give up that extra dough we may be spending selfishly, but there are so many instances when what our brother or sister in Christ really needs isn't $$$, but instead they need some good Biblical advice, or someone to hold their hand through a tough time. There may be someone on the side of the road who is cold, and even though you may not have somewhere for them to lay their head that night (because where you lay your own head may be someone else's home) you might decide to stop and give them your coat. You might buy two grilled chicken salads at lunch instead of one and give one to the intern you know is scraping coins just to buy that double cheeseburger. You hook up with your local Habitat for Humanity chapter a become part of someone's dream of having their own home. You can serve with simply the love in your heart and your time.

In Galatians 5, Paul reminds us "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

He reminds us that Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. Those words are so powerful. If you were dying from a rare blood disease but had the power to put new, clean, healthy blood in yourself would you simply choose not to? If your own son was injured in a car accident and loosing blood quickly, only for the nurse to come in and say "We're out of O negative", how would that make you feel?

When it all comes down to it, God is not concerned about our fear of needles, or discomfort with blood, or preference to buy yet another $5 cupcake or $6 cup of coffee instead of giving it to a worthy cause. He is not concerned with our fears because they are a direct disobedience of His command to fear Him only. Not in worry, but in reverence.

We have to stop letting fear stop us from giving all we can, and stop allowing ourselves to get sucked into the self-centered mentality of our culture. But instead remember Who we belong to and what He has called us to do.


With A Servant's Heart,
Ashley Danielle