The last couple of months, we at The 'Hills have been presented several opportunities to participate in one of the Big Five: service. We serve God first and foremost (1 Samuel 12:24), we serve each other (Galatians 5:13), and we serve our community. There is a reason that Highland Hills is called a "community" church. You see, any community is made up of neighbors, and interestingly enough, Jesus has something very important to say about our neighbors. As a matter of fact, when He was pressed by a religious leader for an answer on how to inherit eternal life, one of the two requirements Jesus listed was "love your neighbor as yourself". We cannot love our neighbors in our community without serving them! Let's face it, we tend to love ourselves rather easily. And when we love ourselves, we serve ourselves by making sure we have everything we need. Yet Jesus tells us that we should make sure our neighbors' needs are being met!
In the last couple of months, several folks from HHCC served our community by participating in Build-A-Bed Barren County and the Single Mothers' Oil Change at Hillvue. Both were excellent opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ while showing His love through our actions. But as always, there's more to the story when Jesus is involved. Did you know that there are nearly 100 verses in the bible telling us to serve the poor and hungry? Why is it so important to God that we serve the less-fortunate in our community? The reasons are obvious and many, but for the Christ follower, I believe it boils down to perspective.
As a child, I can remember singing a song that said "count your blessings, name them one-by-one". In our busy lives, we often forget to count the blessings that God has lavished upon us. And its easy to forget to thank God for them. Matter of fact, we often go to the other end of the spectrum and complain about just about anything. But service to our community changes our perspective! Do you have any idea how hard it is to complain when you service a car with no brakes that has three child carriers in the back seat? Do you have any idea how hard it is to complain when you carry a bed into a house in which a child has been sleeping in the hallway for years because the parents couldn't afford a bed? Let those last two sentences sink in for a minute.
Service has many benefits for both the Christ follower as well as the folks being served in the community. No wonder Jesus commands us to serve! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came not to be served, but to serve! Now, let's follow His incredible lead!
Chad
