When I was younger, one of my favorite Christian musicians was Keith Green. It wasn’t his piano playing or musical abilities that I connected with. It was his passion for Christ. He truly was serving the Lord Christ. In one of his songs, entitled, “The Sheep and the Goats”, he tells the story found in Matthew 25:31-46. The way that he tells the story made me fall in love with this passage. I particularly love the part where it reads:
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ The King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:37-40).
Later, Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Why Serve the Lord Christ?
Serving others is serving Jesus Himself. This truth changes how you see every act of kindness. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” When you serve with a heart for Jesus, your actions honor Him and touch lives in a way that lasts.
You are Serving the Lord Christ
When you serve, you are serving Jesus. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”. It’s easy to forget that, especially when the sacrifice involved is greater than you had anticipated, or greater than the commitment that you were willing to make. Serving Jesus means putting others first, even when it’s hard, because every act of love is done for Him.
What is Your Motive in Serving?
If your thinking is results oriented, you are missing the point. In other words, if you are serving for the purpose of seeing results, your thinking is off. Servants find joy in serving whether they see results or not, because they know that as they serve, they bring honor to the Lord. It’s all about Him, not about us. Joy is found in serving, not in the results of having served. This requires us to look honestly at our own motives. In fact, it’s a good idea to ask someone close to you, like your spouse or best friend, who can see things clearly and isn’t afraid to tell you what they see. Jesus’ motive was to bring honor to the Father. He stayed His focus on that one mission. Checking your motives keeps your heart in the right place, focused on serving for His glory.
The Key is to Think like a Servant
Developing a servant mindset does take time. I’m still developing this mindset and I want to for the rest of my life. I’ll be writing more on this later, but in short, you become what you think about. The more we think of others first, the more we will invest in the lives of others. Always remember, you are serving the Lord Christ.
How do you live as a servant of Christ? Keep your heart set on pleasing Him, serving others with love, no matter how small the act. Whether it’s sharing a meal or listening to someone’s troubles, let your actions show His heart. Stay focused on Him, and your life will shine with His love, serving the Lord Christ in all you do.