The Value of Serving (and some ways you can serve another today!)
We've Been Called to Serve
What is service?
Oxford Languages defines service as: The action of helping or doing work for someone.
It may be safe to assume that we all have an idea of what service is, however, our personal definitions might contain slight variations. One person may think of service as holding the door open for a stranger, whereas someone else may think of it as donating clothing to a homeless shelter. Another person may see service solely as a paid job, for example, a waiter is serving you your food because they are required to. These are all examples of service, and each one is not more dominant than the other.
Why should we serve others?
When we serve others, we are following in Christ’s footsteps. Christ spent his mortal life in the service of others and we can see this throughout the Bible. When we serve others, we are building ourselves a solid foundation overflowing with blessings, personal growth, enlightenment, happiness, and inspiration. When you serve another, you are adding value to not only the person you are serving but also yourself. You have the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life. This can inspire whomever you serve to pay it forward, which can create a snowball effect of acts of kindness and good deeds. By your simple action, you can create a shift that has the potential to create a constructive and beneficial difference for humankind.
How do we find time to serve?
With the hustle and bustle attitude of our modern times, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of our commitments and obligations. Between all of society’s expectations, our expectations from our family, and responsibilities at work, it's no wonder so many of us sometimes feel swallowed up. We can become so encompassed with the tasks of our day-to-day lives, that when we do get a break, we want to spend that break resting, catching up on reading, or enjoying a hobby. “I’m just too tired”, is the universal excuse to why we aren’t doing more. We use this excuse in numerous areas of our lives. However, when we use this excuse specifically as to why we cannot serve another, we are overlooking the expectation of the Almighty. He has commanded us to serve. We should learn to prioritize our time to include acts of service.
Thankfully there is a myriad of approaches you can take to help another person. Many of these methods don’t need to take a lot of time. Because of this, some deeds can easily be implemented into your daily life.
A Fistful of Service Ideas
- Walk your neighbor's dog
- Greet others with a nod of acknowledgment
- Listen. Listen with the intent to listen.
- Clean up any litter you come across
- Do a chore for someone in your household that you normally wouldn’t do
- Hold open the door for someone
- Give sincere compliments
- Smile
- Donate books
- Respond to someone rude with kindness and understanding
- Show your support for someone, even if you don’t agree with whatever they need support with
- Pray for others
- Offer up your seat to someone who needs it more
- Keep your promises
- Write and send someone an uplifting note
- Call an old friend
- Pay off someone's overdrawn school lunch account
- Donate canned goods
- Participate in a community clean up
- Volunteer at a food pantry
- Purchase classroom supplies for a teacher
- Plant a tree
- Cook a meal for someone
- Help an elderly person carry their groceries to their car
- Donate blood
- Donate used clothing
- Pay for someone's gas
- If you notice your neighbor’s trash can isn’t at the curb on trash day, bring it out for them
- Are you walking or driving your kids to school? Maybe you can help a friend out by taking their child too
- Donate make-up and feminine hygiene products to a women's shelter
- Babysit for someone in need
- Set up a small monthly donation to your favorite charity
- Mow someone's lawn
- When you see someone is down, don’t avoid them. Instead, sit with them, talk to them, and let them feel your love and concern
- Donate an old wedding or prom dress to make angel gowns
- Help kids with their homework
- Clean up old headstones
- Return someone else's shopping cart along with your own
- Help your neighbor with their gardening
- Volunteer at the library
- Cuddle a newborn, volunteer at the hospital to cuddle newborn infants
- Play games with people at retirement centers
- Purchase someone a book
- Pay for the person behind you in line (it doesn’t matter where you are!)
- Knit beanies and donate them to a cancer center
- Treat your new co-worker to lunch
- Teach a music lesson
- Clean a pregnant person's house
- When you see a group of people taking a photo, offer to take the photo so everyone in their group can be included
- Read to people in the hospital
- Hug someone who needs a hug
- Leave a small gift and note of gratitude for your mail delivery person
- Return store items you’ve decided not to purchase to their original spot
- Hold the elevator door open
- Be someone’s cheerleader
- Collect diapers and donate them
As you can see, serving others is a multifaceted venture. There is no correct or incorrect way to serve someone. There is no way which is better than the other. Do what you can with what resources you have to show your love and support for those you come into contact with. It doesn’t matter if they’re someone you’ve known your whole life or a stranger on the street. When you see an opportunity to nourish another individual, do so. You never know the monumental footprint a simple act can leave.
-Torrance Church of Christ