“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
This famous proverb, widely attributed to Winston Churchill, reminds us that our careers and paychecks help us make a living, but our generosity, kindness, and service to others are what give life its deepest purpose and meaning.
Dr. Richard Gunderman, who teaches both medicine and philanthropy at Indiana University, expanded on that idea in his book, We Make a Life by What We Give.
One of his central theses is that philanthropy defies measurement. His analogy is medical. “In medicine, pulse rate, blood pressure, and temperature are easy to measure, but they do not tell the whole story of human health. Likewise, in philanthropy, dollars do not tell the whole story of human giving.”
Our theme this year is LOVE MORE GIVE MORE. One naturally leads to the other. Genuine love always expresses itself through giving. In addition, we want to consider the second part of the theme—Give More.
In Galatians 5:13-15, Paul offers this insight regarding the connection between loving and serving.
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.”
Giving more means serving more.
The Meaning
The word “serve” refers to a slave, a bondservant, or one who willingly places himself in service to another. Paul’s readers knew about slavery. One-third of the Roman population was enslaved. However, the apostles often spoke metaphorically of one who voluntarily yields and submits his will to another.
This language is frequently used in the New Testament to describe a Christian as a “servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:1), a “slave of righteousness” (Rom. 6:16-19), and a servant of fellow believers (1 Cor. 4:5).
Love gives. Love serves.
The Motive
Our motivation for serving should not be based on a feeling of legalistic duty. Nor should it be based on fleshly, selfish desires. Rather, it should spring from love. Giving more through service is not driven by compulsion or self-gratification, but flows naturally from a heart that loves others.
Love is both the motivation and the means by which we meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Love says, “I care about you.” “I feel your hurt.” “I understand your need.” “I want to help.”
My friend and preaching colleague, Phillip Mullins, once wrote:
“Love is never sweeter than when expressed with service.”
He also observed, “We communicate better with deeds than with talk.”
Our Model
Jesus is the epitome of loving, giving, and serving. In Matthew 20:20-28, when the apostles were seeking greatness through prominence and position, He challenged them with these words:
“Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
As Paul pointed out in Philippians 2:5-8, Jesus submissively served by doing the will of the Father. He served selflessly. He was not a self-exalting person, but a self-abasing person. And He served sacrificially. He paid the ultimate price.
Our attitude should be the same as His.
William Barclay was right: “Selfishness in the end does not exalt a man, it destroys him.”
Our Mission Revolves Around Service
#1 We Are Created to Serve
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
When you and I serve others, we are serving God and fulfilling the mission for which He placed us on earth. We’re here to make a contribution. To make a difference. To give something back.
#2 We Are Called to Serve
Second Timothy 1:9 reminds us that we have been called with a “holy calling,” according to God’s purpose. And that calling includes serving one another through love.
#3 We Are Commanded to Serve
Christian service is not an option—not something tacked onto our schedules if we have time. It is at the very heart of the Christian life.
Scripture exhorts us: “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16).
There are so many ways we can give more. Most are not financial. It may be serving through a member care group, teaching a class, helping with VBS, taking a meal to someone in need, writing a note of encouragement, sending a text, or making a phone call. Opportunities to serve are all around us.
As a missionary ministering to the poor in Calcutta once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Then she added, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
Giving more does not always require more money, more talent, or more time. Often it simply requires a willing heart. When we love more, we will serve more. And when we serve more, we truly give more.
—Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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