Finding Joy in Serving Others as Jesus Did
What's the difference between someone who serves occasionally and someone who embodies servanthood as part of their identity? Why do some people seem to serve others with such joy, while others burn out quickly? The answer lies in understanding the connection between gratitude and service, a connection Jesus demonstrated for us perfectly.
The Ultimate Example of Servanthood
When we think about service, we must start with the best possible example: Jesus himself. John's Gospel gives us a powerful picture of Jesus' servant heart on his final night with the disciples.
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." (John 13:3-5)
This wasn't just a nice gesture. This was Jesus redefining greatness. He upended expectations of what the Messiah would be by taking on the role of the lowest servant. And remarkably, he did this while knowing his betrayer sat at the same table.
Servanthood Is an Identity, Not Just an Action
There's a profound difference between being someone who serves and being a servant. If I merely choose to serve, I can also choose not to serve. I can decide who is worthy of my service and who isn't. I might serve out of obligation or to feel good about myself.
But a servant who follows Jesus' example serves because that's who they are! They can't help it. They serve without calculating what they're doing or who they're serving, without expecting praise or reward.
Jesus calls us to this transformation of identity. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:5-8:
"Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Peter initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet because he thought Jesus was too good for that kind of service. But Jesus revealed that his fundamental nature as Lord and Messiah is also the nature of a servant. If Jesus had no sense of entitlement, how can we live as his followers with anything but pure motives and pure love?
Serving Those We'd Rather Not
This is where servanthood truly challenges us. If I merely choose to serve, I can also choose who I won't serve. But Jesus doesn't operate that way.
Remember who was at the table that night? "The devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus... For he knew who was going to betray him" (John 13:2, 11). Yet Jesus still washed Judas's feet.
Why? Because Jesus was and is a servant, and it was as natural for him to wash the feet of his betrayer as it was to wash the feet of his closest friends. He was living out what he had taught earlier:
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:44-45)
Most of us have people in our lives whom we cannot imagine serving. People who have hurt us or whom we simply don't like. But Jesus tells us, "None of that matters. Serve anyway, because you are a servant, just like me."
Gratitude: The Fuel for Sustained Service
How can we serve without expecting anything in return? The only way is to realize we've already received far more from God than we could possibly give back. When everything we have is recognized as a gift from God — every breath, every ounce of strength, every resource — we can freely give and serve from that abundance.
Jesus illustrates this in Luke 17:7-10 with a parable about a servant who works all day and then prepares dinner for his master without expecting thanks. Jesus concludes, "In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'"
This isn't because we're terrible, lowly human beings. It's because we have received from our Master far more than we could hope to earn. We haven't earned God's gifts. We can only receive them and give them away.
This is liberating! We can be servants to everyone without worrying about giving too much. We know our Master is gracious and generous, and we can trust God to provide for us. What more could we expect from serving others that compares to what God already gives us?
Service as Worship
Our service is ultimately an offering to God, a response of gratitude for what God has done for us. Throughout Scripture, this response is called worship.
Paul ties this together beautifully in Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship."
The Greek words here can be translated as either "true and proper worship" or "reasonable service." That's because worship and service can't be separated. Our "true and proper worship" is also our "reasonable service," the logical response to what God has done for us.
Putting It Into Practice
So how do we live as servants with hearts of gratitude? Here are some practical steps:
Remember what you've received: Start each day by reflecting on God's generosity toward you. Let gratitude be your motivation.
Look for opportunities to serve: Ask God to open your eyes to needs around you that you might normally overlook.
Serve the difficult people: Who in your life is hardest to serve? Following Jesus means washing their feet too.
Serve without expectation: Don't serve to be thanked or recognized. Serve simply because that's who you are in Christ.
See your service as worship: Whatever you do for others, do it as an offering to God. This transforms even mundane tasks into sacred acts.
Today, let's not just choose to serve when we want to. Let's become servants like our Master, Jesus, living and giving from the abundance God gives to us. When we do, we'll discover the joy that comes from serving with a thankful heart.
Reflection
How does my approach to serving others reflect my identity? Do I serve because it's who I am, or do I pick and choose when and whom to serve?
In what ways have I been hesitant to serve those who have hurt me or those I find difficult to love? How can I follow Jesus' example of washing even Judas's feet?
How does gratitude for what God has already given me influence my attitude toward serving others?
When was the last time I served without any expectation of recognition or reward? How did that experience feel different?
Application
This week, identify one person who is difficult for you to serve, perhaps someone who has hurt you or someone you struggle to get along with. Choose to serve them in a practical way, remembering that Jesus served even Judas. As you serve, focus on your identity as a servant of Christ rather than on the worthiness of the person you're serving. Remember that your service is ultimately an offering to God, your "true and proper worship" as Romans 12:1 describes it. Let gratitude for God's abundant provision fuel your service, knowing that everything you have is a gift from God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for redefining greatness through your example of servanthood. Forgive me for the times I've served with wrong motives or chosen not to serve those who are difficult to love. Help me to embrace the identity of a servant as you did, serving not out of obligation but out of gratitude for all you've given me. Transform my heart so that service flows naturally from who I am in you. When I grow weary, remind me that my service is ultimately worship to you. May I pour out my life as a living sacrifice, trusting that you will continue to provide everything I need. In your name I pray, Amen.
