What makes it hard for you to serve others?

[Cush]

Matthew 6:24. The question comes to mind, why must I choose between spiritual and financial abundance? Why are they not mutually exclusive? It is incredible that money can offset the balance of nature, that is, giving to charity will offset the survival of the least fit. The most difficult thing for me is materialism… It seems as though as I attempt to be less materialistic in life - the more abundant things become. And the more abundant things become the more guilt burdens my conscience for having nice or luxurious things…

But onto a different perspective, I find it difficult to serve others when people with their hands out do not demonstrate any positive virtue, when they are solely focused on themselves, or as my daughter just said, when they are self absorbed. It is very much like a story in the news that I had encountered not long ago, a woman with 15 children by 3 different men expects and thinks that “We the People” owe and are obligated to pay her way. That kind of mentality makes it difficult for me to serve others, it is one thing to be disadvantaged, and quite another, in my eyes, to be made disadvantaged by one’s moral choices.

 

[motherprayer]

I love to serve others, but I think that is in part because I myself come from a disadvantaged background, and so I understand the mentality that develops.

Those who "don't have" at times find themselves in a constant struggle for "things" which creates a needy attitude. Without the Holy Spirit working in a person to help them understand the difference between physical (temporary) and spiritual (eternal) blessings, it is easy for this attitude to develop into flat-out materialism.
Conversely, it is really hard for those who have never struggled to misunderstand this entirely natural response and see it as greediness, when in actuality it is a response to having a void that needs to be filled, one that can only be filled by Christ Himself.

In the end, remember this: the BEST way to TRULY help a person is to lead them, gently, to the Cross. Not to focus on their shortcomings or sinful tendencies, because that can hinder getting them filled with the One who can TRULY deliver them FROM those tendencies.

I say all this because I WAS that person, the one who always needed something, always was asking and taking, and when I asked, I always felt that what I asked for I really NEEDED. Then one day, one person I asked for something from said, "I will help you but only if you come to my church. I'm not asking for faithful attendance, just that you come and see that Christ isn't what you think He is." This person was leading a Bible study I attended for the purpose of arguing with the leader lol

I went once, and the love I received there was incomparable to anything I had ever experienced before. And now, 8 years later, I am in need for nothing, as Christ will take care of me

 

[Ark100]

matthew 6;24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Many meanings to the verse you re referring to.
Serving money is different to having money. Nothing wrong in abundance or money, what you do with it and how you treat it is what matters.
God blessed David and Solomon exceedingly. Wealth and abundance comes from God. Everything comes from Him. Gold, Rubies, Silver, Diamond and all come from God and Heaven is lined with precious gold, diamond and more .

Jesus didn't like the attitude of the rich people who trusted in their riches. There are many who feel or act invincible because they are rich. They believe they are untouchable and can rule the world however they like. These are the people the Lord is referring to. Many have made their wealth their god. Many do not even acknowledge that it is God who made it possible.

I dont think you ought to feel guilty for having material things. Make God first in everything, give Him honour, accord, reverence and respect due to Him, acknowledge what you have is from Him, constantly thank Him. AND ENJOY your life. You should not feel guilty for having good things, but always remember its God who made it possible. Dont make your riches or what you have the all in all. Always remember they can be gone tomorrow. These are the things God tries to instill in His Children's ears.

Definitely help the poor and needy if you have enough. Be kind to people with what you have. This is what Jesus would want. Help, sacrifice, give, and never rely on your money or material abundance to be the all in all for God is able to take it away just as He's given it to you.

I do understand where you re coming from in your second question. There are leeches sometimes but what would Jesus do? A lot of people have made many mistakes in life and taken wrong directions which they do regret but some of the things they have caused cant be reversed, like the woman with the many kids. Its silly to do what she did but should you still help them if you can?

Jesus would so should you if you can. Many would find it absurd to want to help them or do things for them, but we are not called to be like many. we are called to emulate Christ and if people call you stupid, silly or idiot for doing kind things beyond what is normal, then it doesnt matter.

Jesus died on the cross for us because He loves us so much. Not that any of us deserve it. But He did it anyway. Why would the author of LIFE choose to lay down His life for sinful man? That is why we should always try to bve kind and generous at all times, and help others even when it looks stupid or if the other person is undeserving of it. There is a reward for doing good.

 

[Spunkn]

Makes it hard to serve others when they are

Rude, don't care, not grateful, yell at you, get upset with you, treat you like dirt, or any number of reasons. Humans will be humans. We just have to remember that God is bigger than us, and try to serve anyway with a loving heart. And often it's very difficult to deal with people who feel like it's all about -them-.

 

[motherprayer]

Makes it hard to serve others when they are

Rude, don't care, not grateful, yell at you, get upset with you, treat you like dirt, or any number of reasons. Humans will be humans. We just have to remember that God is bigger than us, and try to serve anyway with a loving heart. And often it's very difficult to deal with people who feel like it's all about -them-.

Yea it does. I always remind myself of the way I used to be. God helped me when I was ungrateful, lol I feel sometimes like its a tiny bit of returning the favor when I extend grace to an ungrateful person

 

[Spunkn]

Really (or at least in my opinion) it's one of the most powerful testimonies when you serve someone in a loving way and that person just doesn't deserve it (from our point of view). Because in doing that, you are showing the example of what Christ did for us. Dying and giving salvation to us when we do not deserve it.

So it's often the hardest, but it can be one of the most powerful as well.

 

[motherprayer]

Really (or at least in my opinion) it's one of the most powerful testimonies when you serve someone in a loving way and that person just doesn't deserve it (from our point of view). Because in doing that, you are showing the example of what Christ did for us. Dying and giving salvation to us when we do not deserve it.

So it's often the hardest, but it can be one of the most powerful as well.

Amen!

 

[manitouscott]

OP, I share your thoughts and struggles with giving. A couple thoughts
-It is all God's. All of it. The surplus, the part before the surplus, the bonus the tax return the house, car, clothes on and on.
-There are a lot of ways to give to people other than financially. Time, kindness, rides, conversation, encouragement. Giving these things helps the attitude when it comes to give financially.
-You and I may not need the kindness of a stranger now, and how quickly that can change.

The feeling of helping someone who cannot pay me back is worth it, even if it wasn't a direction from the Bible (Parable in the gospels)

 

[The Fire Rises]

Really (or at least in my opinion) it's one of the most powerful testimonies when you serve someone in a loving way and that person just doesn't deserve it (from our point of view). Because in doing that, you are showing the example of what Christ did for us. Dying and giving salvation to us when we do not deserve it.

So it's often the hardest, but it can be one of the most powerful as well.

This.

We have no right to withold our mercy from anyone, although God had every right to do so with us. By all accounts, we should all be in Hell right now. So I don't think being kind/loving/(insert adjective) is asking too much.

Granted, it can be difficult at times, really difficult. There are some people in my life who I look at and am tempted to think: "WHY would anyone waste a second on you?" But then I remember that when Christ looked at me, He didn't just pass me by or blow me off. He stooped down to my level, and offered me a way out.

But, something important to note: I didn't HAVE to accept His invitation. I didn't HAVE to become a Christian. If He forced His love upon me, would it really be love?

The same is true with our fellow humans. They are not in any way obligated to accept/respond to our love or care. They have every right to reject it, because we all have free will: a blessing for some, a curse for others, depends on what you set your heart on. All we can do is try, and pray for the best.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Cush. Where does Jesus say: "Serve others?" I know that Jesus tells a Lawyer in Matthew 22: 35-40: " The first Commandment is: Love God will all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is: Love your
neighbour as you love yourself." Then Jesus states this important fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
God is Love, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. We have to treat others as we love to be treated: with kindness and always friendly words
and helpful hands, if needed. Jesus will give us his Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also. Jesus told us to " Ask and ye
will reveive." ( Matthew 7: 7-8) Then we thank God and share all Love and joy with our neighbour: all around us. We keep asking God and thanking God and sharing all Love and Joy with others.
The Bible tells us to " Repent," to change our selfish and wilful character into:
Loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves.
God will see our sincere efforts, and God will Bless us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us and carry on loving and caring. Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us, JESUS IS THE WAY.
I say this with love, Cush. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[TravelerFarAwayFromHome]

Matthew 6:24. The question comes to mind, why must I choose between spiritual and financial abundance? Why are they not mutually exclusive? It is incredible that money can offset the balance of nature, that is, giving to charity will offset the survival of the least fit. The most difficult thing for me is materialism… It seems as though as I attempt to be less materialistic in life - the more abundant things become. And the more abundant things become the more guilt burdens my conscience for having nice or luxurious things…

But onto a different perspective, I find it difficult to serve others when people with their hands out do not demonstrate any positive virtue, when they are solely focused on themselves, or as my daughter just said, when they are self absorbed. It is very much like a story in the news that I had encountered not long ago, a woman with 15 children by 3 different men expects and thinks that “We the People” owe and are obligated to pay her way. That kind of mentality makes it difficult for me to serve others, it is one thing to be disadvantaged, and quite another, in my eyes, to be made disadvantaged by one’s moral choices.

life experiences is an interesting thing.

it could make you more empathetic towards some and harden your heart towards others.

mine?

well, i have a very strong empathy for people who are down and out, who are generally mistreated by those around them including Christians ( though more subtle though) simply because they are the most vulnerable.

examples include homeless, prisoners, and in particular, street youth on drugs.

and people i generally do not like to serve are my fellow Christians who despite receive so much love and grace from God, continue to choose to behave like jerks.

to me it is equivalent to a billionaire who has so much yet continue to choose to pinch money from little street kids on the street

disgusting behaviors if you ask me.

 

[Cush]

Dear Cush. Where does Jesus say: "Serve others?" I know that Jesus tells a Lawyer in Matthew 22: 35-40: " The first Commandment is: Love God will all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is: Love your
neighbour as you love yourself." Then Jesus states this important fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
God is Love, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. We have to treat others as we love to be treated: with kindness and always friendly words
and helpful hands, if needed. Jesus will give us his Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also. Jesus told us to " Ask and ye
will reveive." ( Matthew 7: 7-8) Then we thank God and share all Love and joy with our neighbour: all around us. We keep asking God and thanking God and sharing all Love and Joy with others.
The Bible tells us to " Repent," to change our selfish and wilful character into:
Loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves.
God will see our sincere efforts, and God will Bless us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us and carry on loving and caring. Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us, JESUS IS THE WAY.
I say this with love, Cush. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Hello Emmy, some verses on serving others... theres a great page @ openbible.info/topics/serving_others but I am unable as of yet to post links...



1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Galatians 5:13-14 ESV

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

John 13:12-14 ESV

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Mark 9:35 ESV

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Mark 10:44-45 ESV

And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 ESV

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:1-11

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...