The Paradox of Serving

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen here with another weekday podcast. And today I want to talk about the paradox of serving. Jesus says of himself in Matthew, chapter 20, verse 28, for even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom. For many friends. There is a really beautiful paradox in serving others. The giver becomes the receiver. When we extend our hands to help, God fills them with blessings beyond measure. It's not about wearing church swag or patting ourselves on the back. It's about showing up to do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. Imagine with me, if you will, just a word where everyone just understood this one secret. Just again, imagine, if you will, a world where everyone understood this secret. A world where people didn't chase after recognition or rewards, didn't chase after a bigger, brighter, shinier reward, but simply served out of love. I wonder what that would look like. Let me tell you. It would look a lot like how Jesus describes the kingdom of God. You see, when we serve, something remarkable happens. We step into the very heart of God's plan for humanity. We become Jesus's hands and feet, his ambassadors of love in a world that desperately needs it. And in that process, we find ourselves transformed. Now think about it. When you serve a meal to someone who's hungry, you're not just filling their stomach. You're feeding your own soul. When you comfort someone who's hurting, you're not just easing their pain. You're healing a part of yourself. When you give your time to mentor a child, you're not just shaping their future. You're rediscovering the wonder and joy of life through their eyes. This is the dance of grace that God invites us into. And in this dance, we step back and let God lead. Our job isn't to grow the church. That's Jesus department. We need to stay in our lane because we're called to serve people and love them fiercely. And as we do, watch and wonder as God does, what only he can do. But here's the catch, y'all, and it's an important one, our motives truly matter. Serving isn't about wearing our church logo or trying to get people into our doors. It's about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. It's about love, pure and simple. Remember, Jesus didn't come with fanfare and trumpet blasts. He came as a servant, washing feet, healing the sick, comforting the brokenhearted. And he calls me and you to do the same thing. Not for recognition, not for reward, but because love compels us. So, friend, today I want to challenge you. Look around you. Where can you serve? Who needs a helping hand? A listening ear? Maybe a word of encouragement. Don't wait for a church program or a special event to serve. Serve where you are and use what you have. Maybe it's making a meal for a neighbor who's struggling. Perhaps it's just a phone call to check in on somebody you haven't talked with in a while. Perhaps it's offering to babysit for a single mom who needs a break. It could be as simple as a kind word to a cashier at a grocery store. Whatever it is, do it with grace, do it graciously, and do it with love. Do it with joy. And watch as God works miracles in you and through you. Not just in the lives of those you serve, but in your own life as well. Because in serving others, we find ourselves. In giving, we receive. This is the beautiful paradox of God's kingdom, and it's available to all of us every single day. So let's embrace it. Let's live it. Let's change our world one act of service at a time. Because in serving others, we do indeed find ourselves in giving, we receive. This is, friends, the paradox of God's kingdom. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast. [00:04:13] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 915 and eleven. And we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome.