Whom can I serve?

Whose needs can I meet? Where can I serve? What can I give you? Why are you doing that all by yourself? Who needs something that I can give? When do you need me? Are you OK? Can I get you something?

What’s common about all these questions? They are all seeking a way to serve without waiting to be asked. We were put on earth to make a contribution, but no assignments are given out. Part of serving is looking for and finding the need so you can do something about it before it becomes an issue.

A lot of this is in how we think. It’s all about becoming other-conscious versus self-conscious. Being self-conscious is what happens without any effort. It’s the natural human way of going about our lives. Becoming other-conscious is what happens with some effort and the Spirit of God to empower us.

We were not made to go at it alone. We were made to serve each other so that in community, we all get our needs met. It’s a little like saying, “I’ll scratch your back, and you scratch mine,” but more complicated in that we are all gifted to meet each other’s needs in different areas and different ways that only the Holy Spirit could arrange.

It’s the consciousness that is the key. That and the commitment that once we become aware of a need we can meet, we will immediately do something about it.

It’s always been interesting to me that he didn’t tell us to go out and do good. He said to be eager to do good. That means we are consciously aware of opportunities to serve. If you weren’t thinking along these lines you might miss all kinds of opportunities to serve. But anyone who is eager to do something is looking for it.

If you’re eager to go fishing, you’re going to be looking for the next free day on your calendar. If you are eager to play tennis, you will be on the lookout for a suitable partner to play with. In the same way, if you are eager to do good, you will be keenly aware of opportunities to serve others as they arise. It’s all in our awareness.

You might want to go over the questions again at the beginning of this blog and see if anyone comes to mind as you go through them. Then make a plan to reach out to that person in some way. And finally, think about how you can get into an other-conscious groove. Anticipate needs. Be eager to serve. Ask God to bring these things to mind at all times, that becoming aware of those around you might become a habit you just can’t shake!