Stingy with service (CASM 37)

Stingy means to be unwilling to give, spend, or not being generous. I didn’t realize how stingy I was with service until God started putting me in situations to assist people. It was not about money it was about me connecting with people and being present for them. Sometimes it was easier to give money than to give my physical self. I cried out to the Lord to be used, and of course, had my idea of how He should use me. God put me in random situations that made me laugh because I recognized that He was using me where He needed me to be used. The Lord was maturing me by taking me out of my comfort zone. It was necessary so I could be a laborer in the harvest to spread the gospel.

Attitude

You may not struggle with service but struggle with your attitude while doing service. It’s great that you volunteer and make yourself available, but if you murmur and complain that overshadows the service. Overextending yourself can also cause a bad attitude because you’re tired and not being hospitable. If you compete with others in doing service, it’s clear it’s not for the Lord to get the glory but for your own gain. How we approach service is just as important as the service.

Do what you’re good at

God instilled in each of us a desire to serve in our own unique way, embrace it. What you are good at is different than what I am good at, do it unto the Lord. Ask the Lord to truly help you to walk in and nurture it. Your service may look altogether different than the next, but don’t be afraid to use it for the kingdom of God. If you’re unwilling to share your God-given service, you’re being stingy towards those people that could glean from you. You also could be helping someone avoid an ungodly choice. Remember, to come alongside someone and encourage their service in the name of Jesus.

Don’t let money be your driving force

Money can sometimes be the determining factor on if you do something or not. Allowing money to be your driving force for your ministry will alienate a lot of people from hearing the gospel message. There is nothing wrong with getting paid for your ministry or service, but make sure you run the fee by the Holy Spirit. Money can make you stingy, selfish, and greedy. The focus should always be the message of Jesus, not how fat your pockets are. One of my favorite scripture passages is Proverbs 30:8-9 which follows:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Service of others

I am extremely thankful for the service of others. When I had a need, someone stepped up for me. Although I may not have always recognized it at the time, God used someone to help me. If that person was stingy in their service, only God knows how the outcome would have gone. Praise God for people that answer the call to be willing servants.

In conclusion

Choose to be a servant. Your service is needed and necessary. Someone’s life depends on it. Don’t be afraid to speak up for Jesus in love with your words and actions. Be open to the Holy Spirit’s refining process to ensure your service is for the glory of God. The Lord needs willing vessels, are you willing?

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