Who Needs Service?

Today, the terms “service” and “volunteering” mostly tend to be linked to those acts of assistance we provide for those who are “less fortunate.” So it is in the Bible, as well. From Genesis to Revelation, from the institution of gleaning in Leviticus 19:10, to the organization of the deacons in Acts 6:1-6, the strongest admonitions and the harshest condemnations have to do with the treatment of the poor—the “widows and orphans.” According to Strong’s Concordance, Psalms alone contains thirty-seven passages using the word “poor” (also translated as “afflicted” or “unfortunate,”) and most of them are praising God for showing favor to them, whether poor in physical substance, such as Psalm 10:17, 18, “O Lord … vindicate the needy and the oppressed” or feeling emotionally drained and needy, as in Psalm 69:29 “I am afflicted and in pain … O God, set me securely on high.”

However, the poor are not the only ones who need loving service. All humans need it. The book of Ruth shows how a well-to-do family may, through misfortune, fall on hard times and need assistance even in the basics of survival. The writings of David and Solomon are full of references to feeling helpless and needy, longing for friendship and support, even while they were kings. Examples may be found in Psalm 34:6, Prov. 17:17 and Eccl. 4:12. In the story of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37, Jesus makes it very clear who needs help. Your neighbor does.

As if to remove all doubt forever, Jesus chose to become someone who needed help. First He was a fragile newborn. His family served Him in a thousand ways, as loving families always serve their children. As He grew, He learned to serve, too, from running errands for His mother, to helping Joseph in the carpenter’s shop. All of this is valid Christian service. As an adult, as we have seen already, Jesus spent His life in service. Interestingly, though, He also continued to need service. Luke 8:1-3 lists some women who, in verse 3, “used to follow Him and minister to Him.” Jesus wouldn’t have had food or a place to sleep if it weren’t for His friends.

Then He came to a dark night of the soul on which He nearly died, simply for lack of human ministrations, also called service. This passage is from Luke 22:41-46, emphasis added. “When He arrived at the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’”