“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Volunteers are the backbone of virtually every Christian ministry, for success or failure is based on how willing people are to donate their time, energy, and resources to further the kingdom of God.

However, discerning how to assemble the masses for a specific cause and keep their interest, participation, and dedication over the long haul is what differentiates a ministry that thrives from one which merely survives.

The local church has always been the epicenter of outreach in our communities. In times of crisis, Christians have always stepped up to the plate to lead and serve (as they should) through donations and volunteering to meet the needs of those less fortunate.

“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45).

The challenge most churches face is that a small percentage of people do the majority of the work, which not only exhausts those who are faithfully serving but causes them to burnout in the long run.

Granted, not every job in ministry is flashy. Serving may require cleaning toilets, taking out the trash, or changing dirty diapers, but every job is critically important to the overall goal of ministry when we place the needs of others before our own.

Truly, what the church needs now more than ever is balance by not only assembling the masses to do the necessary work of ministry, but helping people discover their giftedness and empowering them to stretch the limits of their faith by obeying God’s unique calling on their lives.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

PRIVILEGE:

As Christians, we serve others because it is our privilege to do so (out of thanksgiving to God) and the primary means by which we show others how we genuinely love and care about them in their time of need.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35).

The true heart of any ministry is founded upon giving glory to God by paying it forward and helping mankind, practically and spiritually. Not that we intend to earn God’s favor by our generosity. Rather, it is our privilege to bless others because God has so graciously blessed us even though we don’t deserve it.

As Christians, we are encouraged to utilize the gifts and resources God has given us by seeking opportunities to humble ourselves. In turn, humility helps refocus our attention on glorifying God rather than self-exaltation, which compels us to willingly give unconditional grace and mercy to others as well.

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Proverbs 11:24).

Humility also helps us not think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3), because we understand how quickly the treasures of this world can fade away when we least expect it. Natural disasters are a primary example where these two extremes meet, humbling the rich in a matter of seconds and giving them a dose of harsh reality they otherwise would never understand nor appreciate.

Keep in mind, all we hold dear can be stripped away by the hand of God according to His sovereign will. That is why we are called to not live selfishly with clenched fists but open hands, eager to bless others with our time, energy, and resources (even if we have very little to share).

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’” (Luke 21:1–4).

PURPOSE:

Volunteering also provides opportunities for people to discover purpose in life based on their unique giftedness. For all people have a purpose in life which God has uniquely ordained, and we must not only discover what He would have us do this side of heaven, but help others discover their gifts and purpose as well.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

How then do we discover our purpose? In many ways, it all comes down to introspection and evaluating our lives from various angles.

• GIFTEDNESS: What am I good at? What gifts or skills has God blessed me with?

• FULFILLMENT: What do I enjoy doing? What brings me joy by serving others?

• PERSPECTIVE: What trials have I gone through? How can my life experiences (good and bad) help others?

• OPPORTUNITY: Where is there a need? Where can I best utilize my gifts and ministry passions to bless others?

There are certainly other questions we can ask ourselves to narrow our focus on where God would have us serve, but we must be careful not to be so specific that we sit idle, waiting for an epiphany or the perfect opportunity to fall into place.

Introspection is key, but it must be accompanied by application. Therefore, it is critical we engage in the work of ministry and not distance ourselves from humility opportunities, for we all play a critical role being the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and broken world.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:12–14).

It is also just as important we avoid becoming spiteful or jealous of others whose giftedness seems more appealing or significant than ours. Our enemy thrives on division, so we cannot give him any opportunity to thwart God’s mission for our lives by turning against one another.

Rather, we must come together and celebrate our differences because each member of the body is critical to our overall success. For the body of Christ functions optimally when we all fulfill our purpose to bring glory to His name in creative ways, regardless of how different we are or how insignificant we assume our gifts may be.

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:21–25).

FOCUS:

Many times we lose focus on what is truly important in life. When it comes to serving others, many of us pass on the opportunity because we’re too focused on doing something BIG in the kingdom of God that we lose sight of the SMALL projects God has placed right before us.

However, if we would simply open our eyes, we’d likely be surprised to see how many opportunities there are to lend a helping hand in our communities, for what may seem small and insignificant to us may be lifechanging for those who feel lost and forgotten in this world.

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:1–3).

Ministry does not have to be complicated, but we make it that way when we assume we have to do something extraordinary to be used by God. However, if we would simply trust He has a purpose for our lives, even when we can’t see it yet, we'd likely be less worried about our future and more engaged in our present to be used for His glory.

Ministry is also not confined or limited to the local church. God is our ultimate authority, and we obey His Word with the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit at all times. Therefore, if we feel compelled to use our gifts and talents to demonstrate the love of Jesus to those in need, let us not be hesitant to do so if the Spirit is guiding our actions.

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

For example, when I began writing devotions roughly 13-years ago, I never realized the impact my writing would have on others. I have no theological training from a Bible college or a seminary degree, neither am I affiliated with any denomination or local church.

I’m just a common man with a sincere desire to know what God’s Word says, and more importantly, how to apply it—which in turn has developed into a ministry platform for helping others deepen their understanding and application of Scripture.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

We simply have no idea what God has in store for our lives, but we can rest assured He will reveal His sovereign will in due time if we trust His Word by faith. Our fallen world is desperate for the Good News of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is our mission and divine calling to provide light and hope amid darkness and despair.

Granted, that will likely look different for most people, but it is because our gifts and talents are purposely intended to reach diverse people groups in different ways. Moreover, our struggles and personal experiences provide us opportunities to minister to individuals who are hurting, because our pain and suffering are not random but purposely intended to draw us closer to healing and restoration in Christ.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:38–40).

BOTTOM-LINE:

God receives all the glory when we choose to obey His Word and bless others. Therefore, serving is not about receiving personal recognition for the work we’ve done because the ability to give and serve is 100% dependent on God’s provision, not our abilities or aptitude.

That is why Jesus sternly warned His followers in Matthew 6:1-4 that God discerns the heart and knows whether our intentions are either pure or self-seeking when we invest our time, energy, and resources serving and giving back to others less fortunate.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1–4).

What we must remember is that every act of kindness is significant in God’s sight when we remove self-recognition from the equation. Therefore, serving can be joyous when we step outside our comfort zone and meet the needs of those who could never repay us in return.

Keep in mind, volunteering does not have to be a begrudging task we have to do as a requirement of our faith, but rather an honor and privilege we get to do which testifies to our saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, what the world needs now more than ever is to see Christians coming together to meet the practical needs of our communities—not under compulsion or expectation, but via a sincere desire to see lost souls come to faith in Christ for eternal healing and restoration.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6–8).