SERVE AS CHRIST
How important was
service in the life of the Savior? How often did he do it? What has he taught
about the relationship between daily acts of service and serving God? What am I
willing to do to build up the Lord’s kingdom and how often am I willing to do
it? What blessings are promised to those who serve?
1 Chronicles 29:5
|
Saints
are encouraged to consecrate their service not just their means
|
Ephesians 6:7
|
Serve
he Lord with good will
|
2 Nephi 2:3
|
Spend
all your days in the service of God
|
Mosiah 2:17
|
Serving
your fellow beings is serving God
|
D&C 24:7
|
Devote
all your service in Zion and be strengthened
|
Luke 2:37
|
Serve
God with fasting and daily prayer
|
Luke 22:26-27
|
He
that is Chief among you doth serve you
|
Acts 20:19
|
Serve
the Lord with humility even through the trials of life
|
Romans 7:6
|
Serve
in the spirit of service, not because you are told to
|
Mosiah 2:11
|
Serve
others with all the might, mind and strength granted you by God
|
Mosiah 4:15
|
Service
is taught by example
|
Mosiah 7:33
|
Serve
God with diligence of mind and you will be blessed greatly
|
Mosiah 18:13
|
Service
is one of the covenants we make at baptism
|
D&C 42:29
D&C 59:5
|
We
show our love for God through our acts of service
|
Matthew 6:4
|
We
should not serve for recognition or praise (selfless service)
|
SERVE AS CHRIST QUOTES
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES
Mosiah 2
|
King Benjamin’s discourse on service
|
D&C 81:5
|
Succor, life, strengthen
|
Colossians 3:23-24
|
Serve others as you would serve the
Lord
|
Alma 17-18
|
Ammon served the King
|
Galatians 5:13
|
Serve one another by love
|
D&C 76:5
|
The Lord delights to honor those who
serve Him
|
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
“[The Savior] gave
himself for his followers… He was ever conscious of doing what was right and of
meeting the real and true needs of those he served.”[1]
“During His
ministry on the earth, Jesus Christ spent His time serving and helping others.
True disciples of Jesus Christ do likewise. The Savior said, “By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John
13:35)”[2]
“He put himself and his own needs second and
ministered to others beyond the call of duty, tirelessly, lovingly,
effectively. So many of the problems in the world today spring from selfishness
and self-centeredness in which too many make harsh demands of life and others
in order to meet their demands.”[3]
“Service helps
us to get to know the Savior, for “how knoweth a man the master whom he has not
served?” (Mosiah 5:13.) As we immerse ourselves in the service of others, we
find our spiritual selves and come unto Him.”[4]
“Service
involves us in a process of growth. We learn how to be effective servants step
by step over time, even as the mortal Savior’s youthful development was
described as grace upon grace (see D&C 93:11–14)”[5]
“The more we
understand what really happened in the life of Jesus of Nazareth in Gethsemane
and on Calvary, the better able we will be to understand the importance of
sacrifice and selflessness in our lives.”[6]
“Jesus Christ
loves all of us more than we can understand. When He was on earth He served the
poor, the ignorant, the sinner, the despised. He taught the gospel to all who
would listen, fed crowds of hungry people who came to hear Him, healed the sick
and raised the dead. He is the Creator of the earth and our Savior, yet He did
many humble acts of service… When we willingly serve others in the spirit of
love, we become more like Christ.”[7]
“If we follow
in [the Savior’s] footsteps, we can live by faith rather than by fear. If we
can share his perspective about people, we can love them, serve them, and reach
out to them – rather than feeling anxious and threatened by others.”[8]
“Service is at
the heart of eternal life and our personal destinies. The basic test in this
life is what we choose to do and become. The Savior has told us what to do:
“For the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do” (3 Ne. 27:21).
He has said what we should become: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to
be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27). By choosing to do His
work we become like Him.”[9]
"I
believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to
others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for
themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those
who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save
their lives."[10]
“Sometimes,
because of the pressures of the world around us, our service projects become
self service projects rather than selfless service projects. Selfless service
projects are the projects of the gospel. They have continuity. They are not
one-time special events based on entertainment and fun and games. They need not
be regimented nor regulated. Selfless service projects are people-to-people
projects. They are face-to-face, eye-to-eye, voice-to-ear, heart-to-heart,
spirit-to-spirit, and hand-in-hand, people-to-people projects.”[11]
"When we
seek to serve others, we are motivated not by selfishness but by charity. This
is the way Jesus Christ lived His life and the way a holder of the priesthood
must live his. The Savior did not care for the honors of men; Satan offered Him
all the kingdoms and glory of the world, and Jesus rejected the offer
immediately and completely (see Matthew 4:8–10). Throughout His life, the
Savior must have often felt tired and pressed upon, with scarcely a moment to
Himself; yet He always made time for the sick, the sorrowful, and the
overlooked."[12]
TALENTS &
ABILITIES ENHANCE OUR SERVICE IN THE LORDS HANDS
“One must live, not only exist;…
We must use our talents in behalf of our fellowmen, rather than burying them in
the tomb of a self-centered life.”[13]
"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a
difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of
ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more
enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store."[14]
". . . Let us have ready hands, clean hands, and willing hearts,
that we may participate in providing what our Heavenly Father would have others
receive from Him."[15]
“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our
attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they
family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands
here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is
dependent upon each of us.”[16]
“All men… should develop their
own talents and abilities and capacities to their limit and use them to build
up the kingdom.”[17]
"Serving
others need not come from spectacular events. Often it is the simple daily act
that gives comfort, uplifts, encourages, sustains, and brings a smile to
others. May we always find opportunities to serve."[18]
SERVICE BRINGS
AN ABUNDANT LIFE
“When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be
concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the
promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves! (Matthew 10:39)”[19]
“Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer
perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking
outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our
own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.”[20]
“One of the differences between true joy and mere pleasure is that
certain pleasures are realized only at the cost of someone else’s pain. Joy, on
the other hand, springs out of selflessness and service, and it benefits rather
than hurts others.”[21]
“The true key
to happiness in life is to labor for the happiness of others.”[22]
“If you would
find yourself, learn to deny yourself for the blessing of others. Forget
yourself and find someone who needs your service, and you will discover the
secret to the happy, fulfilled life.”[23]
“One of the most vital things we can do is to
express our testimonies through service, which will, in turn, produce spiritual
growth, greater commitment, and a greater capacity to keep the commandments…
There is a great security in spirituality, and we cannot have spirituality
without service… Let us ponder prayerfully how we may effectively and lovingly
give service to our families, neighbors, and fellow Saints.”[24]
“As we obtain all that it is possible to
obtain through the Father’s promised blessings, the only option for more joy is
to bless others with caring service… To serve is our ultimate and eternal
destiny.”[25]
“It is not
easy to give up our personal priorities and desires. . . . [But] ‘he who lives
only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service
of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity’ (Gordon B. Hinckley,
Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 588).”[26]
“We lose our
life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and
lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can
earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of
which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made. Knowing that service is
what gives our Father in Heaven fulfillment, and knowing that we want to be
where He is and as He is, why must we be commanded to serve one another? Oh,
for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity
of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment because we
will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are
engaged in unselfish service. Let us use the freedom which comes from
self-reliance in giving and serving”[27]
BLESSINGS OF
SERVICE
"Service
makes us strong in our faith and useful in His kingdom. Service gives us
purpose and courage in life. It brings us closer to God and helps us refine our
divine nature. It teaches us to love and understand our fellowmen, and it helps
us forget about our personal desires, eliminating selfishness, pride, and
ingratitude. It teaches us to think of the needs of others, which allows us to
develop the virtues that the Savior possesses.
"Kindness,
love, patience, understanding, and unity will increase as we serve, while
intolerance, jealousy, envy, greed, and selfishness decrease or disappear. The
more we give of ourselves, the more our capacity to serve, understand, and love
will grow.
"Those
who serve will always seek to please God and live in harmony with Him. They
will be full of peace; they will have a cheerful countenance and a spirit of
kindness.
"Those
who serve will strive to ennoble, build, and lift their fellowmen; therefore,
they will find the good in others, and they will not find reason or have time
to become offended. They develop the virtue of praying for those who criticize.
They don't expect recognition or reward. They possess the love of Christ.
"Those
who serve will always be willing to share what they possess and what they know
at all times, in all places, and with all people.
"Those
who serve even in adversity will maintain a living hope of a better future.
They will continue to be firm in the midst of a crisis because their hope is in
Christ."[28]
SERVE AS CHRIST - ADDITIONAL
NOTES
[1] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 81
[3] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 81
[4] Elder Derek A Cuthbert, Ensign, May 1990
[5] V Dallas Merrell, Ensign, December 1996
[6] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 81
[7] Gospel Principles, 166
[8] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 81
[9] V Dallas Merrell, Ensign, December 1996
[11] William R Bradford, Ensign, November 1987
[12] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Lift Where You Stand,"
Ensign, Nov. 2008, 54
[13] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 83
[14] James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No
Presents," Ensign, Dec. 2001, 4
[16] Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone
Today?” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 86
[17] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 83
[19] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 85
[20] Elder Derek A Cuthbert, Ensign, May 1990
[21] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 86
[22] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J Grant,
143
[23] Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1979, p. 34.
[24] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W
Kimball, 87
[26] Dallin H. Oaks, “Unselfish Service,” Ensign, May 2009,
93
[28] Carlos
H. Amado, "Service, a Divine Quality," Ensign, May 2008, 36-37
No comments:
Post a Comment