Serving Others, Sharing Our Gifts

Serving others is a sharing of our gifts within the church family and a blessing to society in general. Service is both a proper attitude and required behaviour for us as Christians. The apostle Simon Peter teaches followers of Jesus that: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

The idea here is that serving others is not an option. This is because God has given every one of us different gifts to use for the benefit of others. The apostle Paul says: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. … Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5,7).

Every one of us has different gifts. The church needs them all. The world needs them all.

Our gifts — abilities, talents, skills, knowledge — are given by God for the common good, for the blessing of others. Every one of us has different gifts. The church needs them all. The world needs them all. When you choose not to use and share your gifts, something irreplaceable is missing.

Serving others and using our gifts for the common good is an important distinctive for us as Methodists too. Our Methodist General Rules includes a demand that all Methodists do our duty of “doing good… doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men.” This means we do good in the church community and also in our broader community.

We are also called to be salt and light in society and do all kinds of good.

We can serve in so many ways in church: as ushers, on the worship team, helping with media, serving on the various ministry teams, and helping out in small ways or more involved lengthy commitments. We are also called to be salt and light in society and do all kinds of good. This includes helping out in our local RCs and CCs, volunteering through charities and other forms of civil society work, and recognizing that whatever we do, including our daily work and occupation, is both our act of worship and an expression of love.

I know some of us feel shy or think lowly of our own abilities and contribution. That is not of God. Neither is thinking that our own gifts are greater than others. Using our gifts is not an option, it is an integral part of our identity as Christians and a faith response to Jesus by loving others using our God-given gifts. If you are not using your gifts for others, start today (not tomorrow).

Rev Dr Bernard Chao