Aging gracefully - serving others

Another choice that we can make in our desire to be aging gracefully in Christ Jesus is to choose to serve others. When we choose to turn from selfish pursuits and choose instead to be a servant like our Lord, we are certainly following in His steps.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:5-7)

Years ago, I was distressed to read something written by a young woman of college age. Someone showed me a notebook; her notes had been made during a Bible class:

"People who are always rushing in to help in the middle of a crisis have always appeared to me as people who love problems that other people have. Because it makes them feel like the hero even if they don't actually help the person in need. I don't think they care as much about the person as they care about how it will boost their ego and make them look good to everyone else."

Now, I don't know if perhaps her thoughts had been shaped by watching Christians with poor testimonies, or if she was simply jaded, or if her own sinful ways had influenced her perception of other people. But what a sad "take" on the efforts of some people to help and serve others!

How can we avoid appearing like the people this young women was talking about? How can we make certain that others see our sincerity? And what can we bring to the table to serve others?

As I'm sure most of us are well aware, each of us is gifted by the Holy Spirit when we are saved; there are many types of gifts, just as there are many opportunities for service:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (I Corinthians 12:4-6)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)

It is our responsibility to use our gifts in service:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (I Peter 4:10)

How exactly can we serve? What is the best way to serve others? It occurs to me that the first requirement as we work to serve others would be a gentle spirit.

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)

The next requirement would be generosity. The dictionary defines this as "liberality in giving or willingness to give." 

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)

 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

Our third requirement as we serve others is compassion. Perhaps that was the component that our young friend quoted above had noticed....perhaps that was missing.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

It's far easier to show compassion and humility if we remember our own sin and weakness as we try to serve others. We don't come at it from the angle of "I'm so awesome, see, I'm helping you," but instead, "I am weak, too, but if we stand together, and if I help you bear your burden, we can be stronger together."

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. (Hebrews 5:2)

Let's make part of our aging gracefully regimen a daily "dose" of helping others. Let's serve others with humility and compassion. 

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. (I Samuel 12:24)