Serving to Be an Example

We all know that we are to serve our fellow man. Even those who aren’t Christians show benevolence. However, for a Christian, this service should take on a whole new meaning. Paul was a great example to us in the book of Acts.

In Acts 20:19, he gives us a peek into his heart as he reminds his followers, that he has served them with humility, with tears, and through many trials. Even as he speaks, the Jews are waiting for an opportunity to cause him harm.

Acts 20:19 “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”

He served with humility. What thoughts does this bring to your mind? What is humility? Webster’s dictionary tells us humility is having a modest or low view of one’s own importance. It is not sitting around cowering down and doing nothing. It is living our lives to please our master instead of ourselves.

No one would have thought anything of Paul having a bit of pride because of the life he lived before he became a Christian.

Philippians 3:4-6 “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

He was a Jew and a Roman citizen. He had studied the Torah in Jerusalem with Gamaliel and became a Pharisee. In human estimation, he had every right to be full of pride and arrogance, to laud his authority over those he was teaching. In our terminology “he had arrived.” Yet, his attitude was the opposite.

He counted his life as nothing!

Philippians 3:7 -8 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”

He not only chose to serve with humility, but he also shed many tears for the cause of Christ. Paul lived his Christian life in total abandonment for the sake of the gospel. Even to the point of being willing to give up his own salvation, if the Jews, that were his brethren and family, would be saved.

In Romans 9:3 he states; “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”

I know of no one that would be willing to do that for another. That statement speaks volumes about his love for Christ and for others. Because he loved Christ so much, he wanted what Christ wanted. He was willing to spend his life for the furtherance of the gospel at any cost.

What are you willing to do to see people saved? Are your comforts more important than your neighbor going to Hell? What about your lack of faithfulness to attend services, your picking and choosing which commands you will follow? These are questions we all need to ask ourselves. Paul obviously had thought this through very carefully. He had suffered much but was willing to suffer more to win some.

We all need to get real in our walk with God. We cannot choose what we want to do for Him. The Bible is not a grocery store or a convenience mart, where we can take it or leave it. We are to serve where, when, and how He wants us to serve. When you get a picture of souls like Paul had, and a love for our Savior like he did, then you can say as Paul said in I Corinthians 4:16, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”