Connecting Point: Called to Serve

Being overly materialistic is a cancer that destroys people and churches. A blind spot, materialism will grow without a healthy conscience to check it.

Pastor Timothy Keller says, “The Bible describes us to be a ministry provider not a ministry consumer.” This is relevant for us today. Sometimes people

are more interested in what they get, rather than what they can give. We must keep the truth front

and center in our lives. God’s grace is what has saved us.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” Ephesians 2:1-10.

The Bible teaches us that every Christian is sent to minister in one form or another. We should strive to have a generous spirit. Jesus never called anyone in without sending them out. This is exactly what occurred with his disciples and was modeled by the early church. As “God’s handiwork” we were created for the purpose of serving. In the Greek language poiema, for handiwork or workmanship (KJV), means “artwork of God.” From ages and ages ago, this grew into the Anglo-Saxon word for “poet.” God sees those he has saved through grace as his masterpiece, to be part of the Gospel as lives are transformed by all that Christ has done.

Take a moment and reflect on the work of God’s grace in your life. Are you distracted or do you get self-absorbed with everyday life? Do you take time to serve others? Remember our purpose in following Jesus, we are called to serve.