A ministry in Carlsbad, New Mexico, supports their community by offering more than 24,000 pounds of free food each month to local residents. The leader of the ministry shared, āPeople can come here, and we will accept them and meet them right where they are. Our goal is . . . to meet their practical needs to get to their spiritual needs.ā As believers in Christ, God desires for us to use what weāve been given to bless others, drawing our communities closer to Him. How can we develop a heart for service that brings glory to God?
We develop a heart for service by asking God to show us how to use the gifts Heās given us to benefit others (1 Peter 4:10). In this way, we offer āmany expressions of thanks to Godā for the abundance Heās blessed us with (2 Corinthians 9:12).
Serving others was an important part of Jesusā ministry. When He healed the sick and fed the hungry, many were introduced to Godās goodness and love. By caring for our communities, weāre following His model of discipleship. Godās wisdom reminds us that when we demonstrate Godās love through our actions, āothers will praise Godā (v. 13). Service isnāt about self-gratification but about showing others the extent of Godās love and the miraculous ways He works through those who are called by His name.
