Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:10
When we think about serving, we often think about a dedicated amount of time where we pause our routine and serve in an organization or ministry that seeks to help those who have a specific need. While this kind of service is good and important, if this is the only kind of service we engage in, we are missing out on the complete understanding of what it means to live the lifestyle of service that Scripture calls us to be a part of. You see, Scripture makes it clear that service is not simply moments throughout our lives where we pause and serve. Scripture teaches that service is to be a part of our daily rhythms as followers of Christ.
We read about the call to make service a part of our daily lives in Galatians 6. In this chapter, the apostle Paul wrote, "Let's not get tired of doing what is good" (verse 9.) He continued by explaining the result following his instruction. He wrote, "At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up" (verse 9). Doing good, or serving, will always result in good, even if we do not immediately see the results. In light of this truth, Paul said, "Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone–especially to those in the family of faith" (verse 10). This call to do good is a call to serve others around us. It is a call to look for needs around us and find ways to help when we see needs that must be met.
Notice that Paul called readers to do good "whenever we have the opportunity" in verse 10. This statement begs the question, "When do we have the opportunity to do good and serve?" The conclusion to this question is "always." We always have the opportunity to serve the people around us. If we look for needs around us, we will find them every day. As we see the needs around us and serve consistently, service will become a lifestyle. This, my friends, is the call we are given in Galatians 6.
Let's heed Paul's instructions in Galatians 6:10 today. Let's do good by serving others whenever we have an opportunity, knowing that our service will always have an impact. Will you choose today to be on the lookout for the needs of others? They may not express their needs, but they all have them, and if we observe long and carefully enough, we will see them. May we choose to live a lifestyle of service whenever we have the opportunity.
Choose today to start looking for needs around you. Wherever you go today, look out for any needs that need to be met. This means paying attention so that you observe needs. When you see needs, look for opportunities to help. As you serve others, be sure to remind them of God's love for them, which is so great that He sent His Son to rescue humanity from sin.
Galatians 6:1-10
1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
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