It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day six in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Guided By Integrity

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.“
Proverbs 11:2-3 (NIV)

What determines whether you do a particular thing or not? How much influence does peer pressure have on you? Would the people closest to you agree with your answer? How much influence do you have on those around you? Is it a positive or negative influence? Why? How likely are you to finish something difficult just because you said you would? Do you have a tendency to give up on things that you once committed to? How will integrity guide the way you serve today?

What you choose to do when no one appears to be watching says a lot about your integrity. Sometimes when we serve others, it is tempting to take short-cuts when we believe no one would notice. When our serving is guided by integrity, we find ourselves being fully invested with our time, ability, and resources in those we serve. We then make decisions based on what is right rather than on what is easy.

As you pray, ask God for the courage to allow integrity to be your guide as you serve others.  Pray that you would choose to do the right things even when no one would notice if you didn’t.  Pray that your decision to be guided by integrity would be contagious to those you serve and those you serve with.

In prayer,

Tom