Serving vs. volunteering

I had a friend tell me about an experience he had with a Christian. The Christian man goes to church constantly, wears a WWJD bracelet, and is constantly prodding this friend to go to church. My friend asked him if he would like to join a volunteer, civil organization. The Christian man’s response was, “I’m not into that volunteerism thing.” That volunteerism thing?

A volunteer is defined as one who acts according to their free will and not out of obligation. The magician asks for a volunteer and you raise your hand. Nobody said you had to. You chose to go. You volunteered.

Christian service is not something we volunteer to do. We are called to serve. That is understood by the term “follower of Jesus Christ.” We are a people who serve because we are a people who have been and are served. Why? Because it is our duty? Because we are obligated? Because the church needs us? NO – NO – NO!!!

We serve, we volunteer, because that is who we are. It is in our makeup to serve. We recognize our need to give not because others need us to give, but because we need to give. We see what we’ve been given so we give.

Community Reformed Church is a body made up on many parts. You are one of those parts. We don’t function as we should unless you fulfill your role in the body. This body is not called to serve itself, although at times we do. (See I Corinthians 12:12-31) We are called to serve Christ as we serve the people (in and outside the church) He brings into our lives. What part is God calling you to play? God desires to not only work through you, He will work in you as you serve.

Here’s the kicker: God blesses you as you serve others. You grow as you give. You become more like Him.