“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…“
(Colossians 3:23)

On my brother Alfred’s birthday in August of 2018, he was getting treatment in Mexico. As he was on the other side of the world, it was difficult to get him a gift or do anything for him. So I took my nephew out for a hike and we enjoyed the day together. That night, I told Alf about our day, and I said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything for your birthday.” He replied, “You did it for my son – it’s as if you did it for me.”

Since he passed, I have felt crippled by the inability to repay all that my brother has done for me, let alone express my gratitude. But I remember his words in anything I give to his son. While my aim is still to make my nephew happy, I also do everything as if I’m doing it for Alfred.

This has given me a new perspective on the final judgement Jesus speaks of in Matthew 25:

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me,
I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me.‘

Then the righteous will answer him, saying,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And 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 25:31-40)

I have met many people, strangers to me, who, out of love for my parents, have showered me with kindness and hospitality. Even, in fact especially, when my parents were not around, the love I have been shown has been overwhelming.

Have you ever witnessed someone doing something nice for someone you love? Like when someone gives your old grandfather a warm hug or your friend a thoughtful gift, or makes your children laugh. Doesn’t it fill your heart with joy and admiration for that wonderful person? How much more must God enjoy seeing hospitality shown to those whom He loves? And how proud must He feel when it comes from His children?

Serving others is not just a good thing to do; it is a method of worship. We praise God by serving His creation. We honour God by serving people. We exalt His name when we lift up our brethren when they are in need.

This is the mark of the redeemed. Not that those who serve are necessarily saved, but those who are saved serve.

“By this,” Jesus says, “all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

I always thought the main purpose of serving others was to bring people to the Lord. And while we are absolutely called to reach the lost, to share the good news, and to testify of the saving grace in Christ Jesus, salvation belongs to God. We serve them not only for their sake but because we love Him who saves, and it is through our service that God draws them to himself.

In her book, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Rosaria Champagne Butterfield explains how “the domain of Christian witness is not salvation (that is God’s work) but service – selfless love and sacrifice.”

However, we are also called to serve our fellow believers and love them proactively, with Christ as our perfect example and ultimate goal. Our worship is not limited to the songs we sing or the prayers we direct heavenwards, but in our service on this earth for His name’s sake. Love Him, and love others for Him.

“No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us.” (1 John 4:12-13)