Thanksgiving Through Service

Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:12

"For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God."

Thoughts: The ministry of service is to all believers a form of thanksgiving and worship to our Lord. By serving others, we are obediently carrying out the will of our Father and are glorifying Him in the process. In looking at service, we should follow Christ’s example of service and giving. Through Jesus, God blessed us with His grace in that while we deserved hell for our sin, Christ willfully died as the ultimate act of love, sacrifice and service to us. What an incredible model of sacrificial love and obedience that is for us to follow.

Service is also a two way street. We should also not neglect to give thanks for acts of service that people perform for us, I remember that after the birth of my last child, people from our church had offered to help with childcare for the other three as well as provide meals for our family. Something inside me wanted to refuse and I tried, however, the lady that had made the offer melted away my reservations with this sentence. “Please don’t rob me of my opportunity to serve God by doing this for you.” I felt so humbled and convicted by the Holy Spirit that I relented. That lady is now a close friend of our family,

Matthew Henry once said about 2 Corinthians 9:12, “Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased?” If our hearts are turned towards God, He can use us to joyfully serve others as an offering of thanksgiving, love and glory to Him.