What Can I Do?

"What has God ever done for me?" Have you ever heard that question before? For me, it's a frustrating one. When someone who believes they have cause to ask it looks back over their life, they may not see God at work. How can we explain all that God can do, and will do, if that person would just trust Him?

God is faithful. He will bless those who love and serve Him. We have to trust Him first. We are responsible for that first step. God can lay the road, but we have to choose to walk it.

The purpose of a relationship with God isn't "What can He do for me," but rather "What can I do for Him?" It's an interesting thought, isn't it? What use could the all-powerful Creator of the universe have for someone as weak and insignificant as I am? It's one I often struggled with: Who am I that God would care about what I do with my life?

I'm learning. I'm learning that just because I am so weak, doesn't mean God doesn't have a use - a purpose - for me. I am learning that there are ways I can serve Him daily, even if they aren't "big." We are called to be servants. We serve God first, and then we serve others. That doesn't mean we have to blindly follow what a person tells us. We are meant to be leaders as well. We should serve people to show them God's abundant love, patience, and mercy, while leading them through our actions, words, and lives to God.

Through service, we can have a deeper, more fulfilled relationship with God. I'm reading a book that talks about how our relationship with God must come first, and all of our relationships should be selfless. I'll share more about the book when I finish reading it.

Selfless. That's an interesting word. One that apparently goes against "human nature." I was told once that it's human nature to act in the interest of ourselves. In American society, the individual is particularly promoted. So, what does it mean to be selfless?

It is defined as "having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.; unselfish" (Dictionary).

Unselfish. Selfless. Servant. As children of God, we are meant to serve with all of our being.

Today, I asked myself what I could do to serve. I took out the trash. So far, that's all I could think of doing. I normally clean up the house, but I usually leave the trash for my Mom because I hate taking it out. I can't stand bagging it up. I can't stand taking it out to the smelly dumpster. Today, I did it with a glad heart, knowing that when she gets home from work, she'll be pleasantly surprised, even if I won't be able to see her reaction.

It doesn't have to be a grand gesture, though it can be. Jesus' disciples served by preaching everywhere they went. Others serve by going on mission trips. Maybe it's not possible for you to go on a mission trip. That's okay. Find other ways to serve. How can you serve God in your daily life? God will provide opportunities for selflessness in interactions with others - a kind deed for someone at work, a kind word for someone at the bus stop, a chore done for a family member to make their day easier. There are always opportunities to show God's presence in our lives.
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Jesus said, "And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:44-45).

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11).