At Your Service

I remembered one morning when I took my breakfast in a fast food chain; the crew introduced herself and offered service with a smile. I cannot spell out the passion and the genuineness in carrying out her task saying, “At your service sir”. She might be the representation of the many other crews, working individuals, business people and any other fields of work which surely define and make their being into existence full of meaning.

In our Gospel today, Jesus taught service and sacrifice. This is to sacrifice one’s life for the sake of another. Service without it is futile. It makes one a whole. This is to avoid brutish and selfish serving. Jesus makes an analogy of service and sacrifice to drink with His cup which entails following Him to any pain and struggles of life, of martyrdom. Also it signifies daily temptations, sacrifices and disappointments of Christian life.

For this instance, I realize how significant service in making our life fulfilled. With this, I have three points to consider: know your field, know your direction and know your purpose.

Know your field. It is a need to know where you have been planted for you to know how to grow and be a better person. Learn to love it. Focus on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. This is where you need to know our limitations and the challenges of the world around us. Establish connections and strengthen your linkages. Social investment is at stake in a way. You are not moving forward alone but you are working with people alongside with you.  Relationship building is of significant and relevant to what direction and aspiration you would like to achieve.

Know your direction. You cannot move without looking where you want to go or else you will be lost along the way. It involves strategies on how to take challenges in your way forward. It upholds as well in appreciating small achievements along the way. It motivates you to exert more effort, do more service and enjoy each moment you step on.

Know your purpose. You need to answer the very reason why you serve and why you do what you do today. It is the end of the decision you make, plan you formulate, and risk you take. It requires total submission to the One you served for. The bottom line of everything and the common denominator of working, of service and of sacrifice are for the greater glory of God. The destiny is to be with Him for the best is yet to come, to be in His Kingdom.  

As community of the faithful, we are called to serve. Our service is accompanied with sacrifice. It may be in financial, time, effort or even provoke to many temptations of today’s world. It is indeed a demand for us to know our field, our direction and our purpose to fully understand and appreciate our essence as active Christian witnesses. 

"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom that I may seek to serve rather than be served.    Inflame my heart with love that I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake."