SoLo Lives! Ministry

The Secrets of Real Joy Part IV
Ptr. Peter Tanchi / Sunday, July 20, 2008

When was the last time we stopped being so caught up with ourselves and started being involved in the lives of others with real needs? If joy is still unreal to us, it may be that our order of priority is not Jesus first, Others second, and You last. Otherwise, we will discover that JOY is a by-product of serving others. We all need to learn how to be a joyful servant:

1. Respond to God’s grace. Grace is something we have not earned nor deserved, yet given lavishly without any cost to us.  We are saved not by what we do, but by what Jesus Christ has done (See Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Who can refuse the grace of God? Sadly, many still reject it. The right response to God’s grace is admission of one’s sinfulness and acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life through Christ.
We are, by nature, proud. Only by God’s grace can we cooperate with Him who is working to transform us, so that through us, Christ may touch the lives of others (See 1 Corinthians 15:10). Proof that we have received God’s grace is through service in action. And in serving others, we are giving our worship to God (Philippians 2:12-13).

2. Refuse to grumble. Grumbling is part of human nature. Hence, when we do not grumble, we are being different from the rest of humanity. We do not become children of God by not grumbling; we do not grumble because we are children of God. That should make a difference for Christ (Philippians 2:14-15).
When we grumble, we are actually lodging a complaint against God. When we say, “Why is this happening to me?” What we are really saying is, “Lord, I don’t want what You’re doing…I don’t want what You’re giving.  I don’t believe you love me.” (See 1 Corinthians 10:8-11). History is recorded for our education that we may learn from the past. The Israelites, after their deliverance, complained when they experienced discomforts in the desert. The disaster that struck them was a sign that God was not pleased. As God sees it, grumbling is the sin of unbelief.
A change of perspective will change our attitude.  We should look beyond the dark clouds to have a glimpse of the silver lining. We have heard someone say, “I complained I had no shoes until I saw someone with no feet.” Thankfulness for what we have will develop contentment. When we believe that whatever is happening will lead to something good, and that God is molding our character, grumbling will not even be part of our vocabulary.

3. Rely on God’s Word. It’s so easy to be lost in the swirl of uncertainties, confusion and suffering. In the midst of crisis, we have something to cling to – God’s promises. When we hold on to God’s Word in faith, God’s Word holds up our faith.
When we’re about to give way to the pressures of earthly life, or when we’re about to lose our joy because of people, distressing circumstances or fear of the future, we must fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). When our mind is trained in the meditation of the Word of God, we are reminded that we are just transients in this imperfect world, and that will help us transcend beyond this life to a promising eternal future.
Servants do not use God for their purposes; rather, they let God use them for His purposes. Examples of biblical characters who were humble and therefore tasted the joy of serving others amidst danger are Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Paul had several brushes with death in his labors for the Lord Jesus. He was tortured and imprisoned, a price he had to pay for testifying about Christ, yet even in prison, he continued to minister to others. The joy of serving others never left him. Timothy, who was discipled by Paul, learned from Paul. So when Paul was arrested and incarcerated, Timothy traveled all the way to Philippi to visit and encourage Paul, putting his security on the line, as he also ran the risk of imprisonment for being associated with Christ. Epaphroditus was flooded with sympathy when he fell ill and almost died, but because he was more interested in the welfare of others, he was even distressed upon learning that people were worried about him. Where others fell short in service, he made up for their lack.