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Serving God: Contentment In All Circumstances
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Serving God: Contentment In All Circumstances

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 four in the second 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:
Contentment In All Circumstances

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.“
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

How often do you find your level of contentment fluctuating based on your circumstances?  Should it?  Does your contentment in serving change based on the circumstances of who you are serving or what you are asked to do?  Is it easier for you to serve someone who appears to need help or someone you think doesn’t need your help?  What do you think the secret of contentment is that Paul talks about in today’s verse (hint: read verse 13 also)?  How does knowing that God desires to give you the strength to do everything He calls you to do help you to serve with contentment?

Each of us have different things that bring us satisfaction and make contentment more likely in our lives.  For some it is financial or material reward.  For others it is being recognized or honored for what we do.  Still others have great contentment when they see the lives of people changed as a result of the effort they have given.  Whatever is our “reward” of choice, we will all have times when that reward doesn’t come and we must choose to be content in the circumstances we face.  As you pray, ask God to help you have contentment as you are faithful in all circumstances.  Pray that your serving of others would not be based on how you feel.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Contentment With Pay
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Serving God: Contentment With Pay

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 three in the second 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:
Contentment With Pay

“Tax collectors also came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’  ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them.  Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’  He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.’“
Luke 3:12-14 (NIV)

How much do you get paid?  Is it enough?  Do you think those are appropriate questions?  What do you think leads to the discontentment that many have with their pay?  How does your contentment, or lack of contentment, with your pay affect the way you serve?  Why?  Have you ever done less than you know you could have because, “I don’t get paid to do that!”?    Does your level of contentment with your pay say more about those paying you or about you?  What does it say about your view of those you are serving?

In a culture that measures worth by financial accumulation, there are few things that get us riled up as quickly as feeling unappreciated, overworked, and underpaid.  I know, I’ve allowed my mind to entertain those thoughts at various times in my life.  Experience says that the thing that suffers the most when we are not content with our pay, is the level of service given to those we are called to serve.  As you pray, ask God to help you know how to be content with your income.  Pray that the people you serve would not be “short-changed” because of your dissatisfaction with your pay.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who “works for the Lord”.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Contentment Through a Fear of the Lord
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Serving God: Contentment Through a Fear of the Lord

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 two in the second 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:
Contentment Through a Fear of the Lord

“The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.“
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

Is a fear of the Lord a good thing or bad thing to you?  Why?  Are there different ways to fear the Lord?  Should how we fear the Lord be different based on our relationship with Him?  Are there people in your life with whom you are content to just be with because of your great respect for them?  What leads to that level of contentment in their presence?  How would having a greater trust and respect for God lead to greater contentment in your life?  How does your fear of the Lord help you to serve with greater contentment?

When I bought my first car a few months before I turned 16, my parents told me that if I wrecked it, the keys would belong to them.  A few months after my 16th birthday, I took a curve too fast and slid off the road and into a fence requiring a tow truck to get me back on the road.  When I arrived home, the first thing I did was to give my keys to my parents.  Not that I was ever “afraid” of them, but the great respect I have for my parents led me to be content in doing what they had asked.  As you pray, ask God to help you to see that a proper fear of the Lord can lead you to great contentment.  Pray that you would learn to serve others with contentment because you fear God.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands
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Serving God: Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands

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 one in the second 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:
Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 (NIV)

Are there things that you want, or want more of, just because you see someone else have them?  What are some of those things?  How effective is visual advertising in getting you to think you need something?  With the costs of 30-second advertisements during events like the Super Bowl in the millions of dollars, how effective do you think companies believe visual advertising is?  How would a lifestyle of contentment help you to live obediently to God’s command to not covet?  Why do you think contentment would be such an important quality in the lives of those who serve?

Doing the right thing has always been a core part of who I am.  Not that I have always chosen the right thing, but the desire to do so seems to have been imbedded in me by my parents and by God Himself.  Our society makes living with an attitude of contentment a very difficult thing to do.  Knowing that God commands me to be content, to not covet what others have, helps me have a desire to be satisfied with what He gives me.  As you pray, ask God to help you understand His desire for you to be content.  Pray that you would be able to serve others effectively because of your obedience to God’s commands.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Serve to Be Like Christ
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Serving God: Serve to Be Like Christ

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 seven in the first 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:
Serve to Be Like Christ

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.“
Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

Who are some people that you have wanted to be like during your life so far?  Why?  Have there been people in various leadership roles over you that you would not want to be like?  Why?  Do you respond better to someone who works with you on a task or to someone who watches from a distance as they tell you exactly how to do it their way?  How would you define servant leadership?  Do you think it is really possible to become great by serving?  Who have you avoided serving that you need to serve this week?

Several times in the gospels, the disciples seem to try to figure out a “pecking order” — who was the greatest, who deserved the place of highest honor.  It seems to be our natural tendency to do everything in our power to be the one being served rather than the one serving.  However, if it is our desire to be like Christ then we must adopt His attitude and practice of becoming servant of all.  As you pray, ask God to empty your heart and mind of all pride that keeps you from serving.  Pray that you would follow the example of Christ in serving others for their benefit.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Serve By Encouraging
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Serving God: Serve By Encouraging

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 first 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:
Serve By Encouraging

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.“
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

What is the most encouraging thing anyone has ever said to you or done for you?  What made it so?  How often do you like to be encouraged?  How often do you encourage others?  What are some things you could do this week to encourage the people around you?  Would it help if you knew what they received encouragement from?  How would you know?  Do you find the gathering together as a staff encouraging?  Why or why not?  What can you do to make it more encouraging?

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we should purposefully come together as a group to encourage one another.  As the days draw nearer to the return of Christ it is even more important that we spur one another on in remaining faithful to our calling in Christ Jesus.  If you haven’t noticed, life has a way of discouraging everyone at some time or another.  God has given us the task of encouraging others so that they too would be able to encourage us.  As you pray, ask God to help you to see the value in meeting together with fellow believers.  Pray that your life would be an encouragement to others as you meet together with an eternal perspective.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Serve By Visiting
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Serving God: Serve By Visiting

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 five in the first 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:
Serve By Visiting

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’“
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

Who do you like to spend time with?  Why?  Are there people that you tend to avoid?  Why?  If you were to evaluate the time you spend with people, how much of that time is about benefitting you?  How much is for mutual benefit?  How much is primarily to benefit others?  Are there people you have noticed this week that you could serve simply by spending time with them?  Would your attitude about spending time with them change if you viewed that time as being time spent with Jesus Himself?

Most of us know people that have a hard time fitting in.  Some of us are those people.  In a group setting we often leave those who don’t fit in alone, rather than take the time to go sit with them and get permission to enter their world for a moment.  When God calls us to visit the lonely and the outcast, sometimes they are much nearer to us than we even think about.  As you pray, ask God to help you see the people around you that you can serve simply by spending time with them listening and giving value to them as a person.  Pray that you would notice the stranger, the needy, the sick, and the imprisoned and visit them as if you are visiting Christ.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Serve By Rebuking and Repenting
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Serving God: Serve By Rebuking and Repenting

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 four in the first 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:
Serve By Rebuking and Repenting

“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.“
Luke 17:3-4 (NIV)

Have you ever been wrong?  How does it feel when someone points out an area of incorrect belief or action in your life?  Why?  How can rebuking someone be seen as serving them?  Are there ways to rebuke, or be rebuked, that would not be serving?  What should the goal of pointing out the faults of another be?  What should your response be when your faults are revealed?  Is repentance more than being sorry?  What do you think repentance should look like when you need to repent?  When others need to repent?

We all know of times when rebuking, or pointing out the sin of another, did not lead to good results.  There are times when those closest to us think they are doing us a favor by not mentioning sin that has become obvious in our life.  If we want to serve others in a way that benefits them, we must learn the godly versions of both rebuking and repenting.  God’s desire in rebuking is that it would lead to repentance — a change of mind that aligns our direction with His.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with His love to direct the rebuking and repentance that you need to do.  Pray for the wisdom and grace to rebuke others in love and to repent when you are rebuked. 

In prayer,

Tom