Serving God

Each of us possesses some talent and unique abilities that others do not have. But it happens that not all these gifts are uncovered by us and discovered, and even if recognized, they are not developed to the proper degree.

The problem may also be that, out of modesty, I begin to consider myself unworthy to contribute something to society or somehow stand out from the general mass. Or, looking at how wonderfully others manage to develop their talents, I consider my own endowments pale and unnecessary to anyone. And there are very many of us like this, and we, like “gray mice,” dissolve into the diversity of the world and live unnoticed by anyone and needed by no one, finding an occupation for ourselves in observing others’ achievements and the successes of other people, considering them advanced in life.

My wife and I decided for ourselves to uncover each other’s hidden abilities and to tell what each of us had discovered in the other, what features we had found. It was very fascinating to strain all one’s mind to see what is not always noticeable at a superficial glance, and then to explain how the next discovery is expressed and what benefit it can bring to this world or to ourselves.

But most of all we were interested in how to apply our talents for the good of the church, and what ministry each of us is best able to perform. We understood that all the gifts the Lord gives us must be directed, first of all, to the glorification of His Name and to the edification of the body of Christ.

Being members of a local congregation, we carried out those kinds of ministry that were entrusted to us. At times we did not even understand why this was being done. Sometimes we were asked whether we could take up this or that ministry, since someone must perform it, and we did not even know what was expected of us, and we formally agreed without having understood what needed to be done.

But the most interesting in our ministry happened when we did with all our heart what we liked and what brought benefit to God’s work, and this brought us closer and closer to other brothers and sisters. We decided to take our love into every ministry and to give it to everyone with whom we crossed paths in life.

In addition to church duties, we constantly looked for the opportunity to serve our neighbors outside the church. Inviting guests or going to visit other people became a norm of life that we did not even discuss; we only decided what to take with us or with what we would treat guests if the need arose.

The features of our time of digital technologies opened many opportunities to perform certain kinds of ministry through the internet and to reach in social networks those people whom we would never meet in person. We were not frightened by discoveries in the digital world, and watching the development of this field, we always thought and prayed about how it could be used for the good of others.

We did not really want to take people’s time in order to fill it with emptiness, and we always weighed and discussed what we published and offered to people.

I tried to become a blogger on YouTube, but I did not manage to do this continuously, and I left this venture, taking up another matter.

In our prayers we constantly asked the Lord to show us what we could do to bring closer the day of His Coming. And over time we understood that in every such case the Lord offers us to do exactly what is accessible and within our power and brings special pleasure, although at times it requires very much of our energy, time, and all kinds of expenditures.

My wife liked to work with other people’s children, and she oriented herself so wonderfully in this sphere, everything worked out so well for her that I could only praise her and marvel at how she managed to cope with all this. In addition to this she did soul care among her acquaintances, made publications on the internet, organized various spiritual events in our home, conducted culinary courses on the principles of a healthy lifestyle, managed to learn something, and always helped everyone who asked her for something. And with all this busyness she still had a lot of free time to communicate with me and friends and to plan something for the future.

We noticed that the love we had for each other fits very well into any of our ministries and gives it a special flavor. When you do something with love, consciously investing this spirit into every work, then it does not tire or strain, but brings deep satisfaction and the awareness of God’s approval.

We labor for God not in order to earn salvation for ourselves, but because we are already saved by Him, and we so want to be participants in God’s great work, using our small strength.

When we have very many different tasks and duties that we gladly perform, and someone tries to put on us yet another ministry that we will not be able to do worthily, then we simply refuse, explaining that we are already loaded as it is. It is better for us to serve a little and with all our heart, bringing the matter to completion, than to take on everything without having the strength to do it in the best way.

We also decided at a family council that, if possible, we would take that work and that ministry which would not separate us, either spiritually or physically. We cost each other far too dearly to lose this relationship because of something earthly. Sometimes people tried to shame us for such an approach, proving to us that we must offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God, and then it would be pleasing to Him. And we asked the Lord to give us such a ministry that we would always be together and have enough time and strength to fulfill different tasks.

We were honest with Jesus, and if we did not like something, we sincerely told Him about it, asking for wisdom for every undertaking and decision.

We know that the Lord considers our choice and our desires, and finds for us exactly what will work for the good of each.

How joyful it is to see the fruits of your ministry, to observe how your character is formed, how a clear vision of many issues is developed, how firmness in principles appears, and to understand that God’s hand is present in all our work.

If you ask us what ministry we perform, I think it will be difficult for us to answer clearly and concretely, for we love what we do and invest all of ourselves in every good work, not counting it as a special ministry for God, since our entire life has become constant service, and our mind is tuned precisely to such a life approach. Our life is our service to God, and He knows this and uses us as He needs, giving us to understand what and when to take up.

It is not difficult for God to use in His work those who wholly belong to Him and are open to cooperation.

We also do not judge anyone if someone sees their life differently and does God’s work as they see fit or does nothing. We decided to love everyone and think about their happiness, forgetting what lies behind.

And how joyful it is to gather together and share the experiences and victories of the past day, planning our wonderful future in Jesus. And if we also agree on some common endeavor, then we believe that success will be given to us by the Heavenly Father.

1. Please read John 12:26; 1 Pet. 4:10–11; Rom. 7:5–6; 12:9–11; 14:17–19; 1 Cor. 12:4–11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:3–8; Gal. 5:13–15; Heb. 12:28–29; 22:3 in the light of this lesson.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind?

4. What is ministry?

5. What kinds of ministry do you know?

6. Does Jesus’ definition from Mark 10:3 fit family relationships? “…But whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.”

7. What kind of ministry can a family perform?

8. Is it worth investing all of yourself in your ministry?

9. What will ministry without love look like?

10. How can I understand what gifts I possess and what ministry I should perform?

11. What should I do if I am not used to serving anyone and do not see the necessity of it?

12. What do you think—does this School serve any of you?

13. Does God serve His creation?

14. What is not ministry?

15. What gift of service do you possess, and which of them would you like to have?