What Makes Serving Others Joyful?

The idea of being a servant has fallen out of favor today regardless of social status. Being served by others is more acceptable, for it conveys authority, power, and privilege. However we do serve others, whether at home, work, or play.

Serving can be a joyful experience that delights the heart and soul, or it can produce an attitude of resentment and contempt. Whichever attitude is present depends on self-perception. Do I see myself as above serving others because entitlement confers on me the right to be served?

Jesus made it absolutely clear he came into the world to serve and to give his life to redeem mankind. Jesus obviously saw a higher purpose in serving others, and that higher purpose was to please God. Think of being a servant as laying up treasures in heaven where the rewards are eternal. If being a servant was preferable to Jesus, then it must be good and honorable. 

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And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 

~2 Timothy 2:24 New International Version

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Integrity Guards Self-Respect - Part 1

Self-love and self-respect have nothing in common with self-righteousness. I can understand how these concepts get confusing for some people, even devout Christians. The Bible warns of thinking too highly of oneself because it makes us vulnerable to failure. The goal of self-righteousness is to deceive. It gives the impression we’re above the rules of society.

Thomas Adams said, "Self-righteousness is the devil's masterpiece. It persuades us to think too highly of ourselves." However, healthy self-esteem parallels self-respect and self-love, which are companions to the commandments to love God with your entire being and your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus modeled for us self-respect and self-love by consistently putting himself into the role of a servant even though his righteousness was on the same level as God the Father. Appropriate self-respect and self-love reach out to others and are the building blocks for establishing values for a happier, healthier, contented life.