Why Serving Others This Holiday Matters More Than We Think

Why Serving Others This Holiday Matters More Than We Think


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This Thanksgiving, I sat by an empty chair.

My family, like all families, crams in our modest house for holidays. It’s a blur of jutted elbows, stepped on toes, and mismatched chairs. Our holiday gatherings aren’t the most spacious, but we make it work.

A few years ago, my grandfather passed away leaving one chair empty at our table. Each Christmas and Thanksgiving since, that chair has represented him and the loss to our family. Time passed, wounds healed, and now there is space at our frantic holiday gatherings.

The holidays, more than any other season, presents us with opportunities to serve people. My family has space at our table. And even if my grandfather was still with us, we would have room. We still have food and gifts. We still have a lot of things the Lord has so graciously given us.

Who could be sitting in that chair? Who could eat our way-too-much-food and be a part of our little too off-kilter family? More importantly, would we be willing to open our hands and give?

Serving others, especially strangers in need, can be uncomfortable. But when we step out of our realm of comfort, God shows us something new about Himself.

Why Should We Seek to Serve?

God is always doing something in our lives and in the lives of everyone around us. He intersects our paths with people at just the right time to the benefit of everyone. What happens in our lives is never just about us.

Proverbs 28:27 says “Whoever gives to the poor will not want.” As we give of whatever we have, the Lord gives to us — more peace, provision, hope — whatever it is we need at the time. Opening our hands from whatever it is we are holding releases the power of God in our lives to provide more than we can imagine. Giving is a way we release control of our lives and trust God to do more than we could.

Deuteronomy 15:11 says,“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites…” There will never be a shortage of people to serve.

There are many who are financially poor, lacking basic physical needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Others are relationally poor, finding themselves far from home or without family. Some are emotionally spent after a tough year, and facing the holidays makes their burden even harder to bear.

Ask these questions: Who around you is lacking? Who has a gap in their lives?

The lonely may need a family. The disheartened may need encouragement. The poor may need provision. And you very well may have what they need.

Why Is This So Uncomfortable?

In our minds and on our social media accounts, we picture pajamas and abundant food and full stockings. And often, giving away our things, our time, and our money changes that picture.

We have a default setting — a way that is “us”-centric. Jesus works in our hearts to make us “others”-centric. Faith is about change. If our faith is growing, we will not stay the same. We will not do things the same way we always have. The Lord will push, prod, press in on us. He will lead us straight out of comfortable and into growth.

Why Not You?

We all have something to give. Jesus has blessed us beyond anything we deserve. The real gift comes to us when we give it away, even if, especially if, it is uncomfortable.

Jesus stepped out of His comfortable home in heaven and into a messy, uncomfortable world. The more we do the same, the more we will understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Jesus stepped out of His comfortable home in heaven and into a messy, uncomfortable world. The more we do the same, the more we will understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us. And wouldn’t the best gift this holiday season be a greater picture of who Jesus is?

My bank account isn’t flush, but this holiday season I do have an empty chair.


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The Surprising Message Of Grace In The Story Of Jonah

Published: November 10, 2024

Beyond the Whale: The Real Story of Jonah We've all heard the story of Jonah and the whale. It's a tale that has captivated imaginations for centuries, often reduced to a simple narrative about a man swallowed by a giant fish. But what if I told you that the whale is not the most incredible part of this story? What if there's a message of grace so profound and unexpected that it challenges our very understanding of God's love? The book of Jonah, though only four chapters long, carries a weight far beyond its size. It's a story set against a backdrop of national tragedy and bitter enmity. Imagine a prophet being sent to the heart of Nazi Germany in 1939 to proclaim God's judgment and call for repentance. That's the emotional equivalent of Jonah's mission to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria – a nation that had destroyed Israel's northern kingdom and taken its people into exile. In this context, Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh becomes understandable. Was it fear that drove him to flee in the opposite direction? Or was it something darker – a desire to see his enemies destroyed rather than given a chance at redemption? Whatever his reasons, Jonah boards a ship bound for Tarshish, as far from Nineveh as he could get. “But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17 But here's where the story takes an interesting turn. Even as Jonah flees from God's command, he still identifies himself as a follower of the very God he's disobeying. When a storm threatens to sink the ship, Jonah doesn't hesitate to tell the sailors that his God is responsible. It's a stark reminder of how we often try to compartmentalize our faith, claiming to follow God while actively running from His will. God's Unyielding Grace The sailors, interestingly, show more compassion than the prophet. They try desperately to save the ship without harming Jonah, even after he tells them to throw him overboard. It's a poignant moment that challenges our assumptions about who truly demonstrates godly behavior. When Jonah is finally cast into the sea, God's grace makes its first dramatic appearance. Instead of letting His wayward prophet drown, God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah and carry him to safety. It's a miraculous rescue, but more importantly, it's a powerful illustration of God's unwillingness to give up on us, even when we've given up on Him. After this dramatic intervention, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh. His proclamation of impending judgment is brief – perhaps just ten words – yet its impact is nothing short of revolutionary. The entire city, from the common people to the king himself, repents in sackcloth and ashes. It's one of the most successful prophetic missions in the entire Bible, and it happened through the most reluctant of messengers. “Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?” – Jonah 4:11 But the story doesn't end with this mass conversion. In a twist that reveals the true heart of the narrative, Jonah becomes angry at God's mercy. He sets up a shelter outside the city, seemingly hoping to still see it destroyed. It's a shocking reaction that forces us to confront our own attitudes towards those we consider beyond redemption. Takeaways from Jonah's Story God’s grace is relentless, reaching out even to those we might deem unworthy. We should examine our own hearts for any reluctance or bias that might hinder God’s work through us. God’s mercy challenges our assumptions and invites us to expand our understanding of His love. Every person, regardless of background or past, is within the reach of God's grace. We are called to be bearers of God’s grace, extending compassion even to those we consider "beyond hope." As we go about our lives, may we be mindful of the Ninevehs around us – the people and places that seem too far gone. And may we, unlike Jonah, rejoice when we see God's grace at work, transforming lives and bringing hope where there was none before. The story of Jonah invites us into a grander narrative of redemption. It calls us to turn away from our own limited understanding and step into the boundless grace of God. In doing so, we might just find ourselves part of a story far more amazing than we could ever imagine – a story of grace that changes everything.

Answering God's Call: Finding Worthiness In Unworthiness

Published: November 20, 2024

Feeling unworthy of a big opportunity? You’re not alone. From Isaiah’s powerful “Here I am, send me” moment to modern examples of faith in action, this post explores how grace transforms our doubts into purpose. Discover how God doesn’t call the perfect—He qualifies the willing—and how your simple “yes” can make a profound impact...
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