"Hoopla?"

To some its all about 'hoopla'. What do I mean? Too many want to make a banister or want public recognition of the help (benevolence) rendered to others. That's what the Pharisees did which Jesus condemned (Matt. 6). Years back I heard a man speaking as we were all leaving an assembly how much money he had given that week to help the poor and proceeded to tell them how much he gives each week in his offering. It was rather offensive.

In John 13, Jesus washed His disciples feet and told them they should do the same. It was a beautiful act of selflessness and acceptance. When Jesus washed those dirty feet, Jesus was claiming them as His own! When we serve another, we demonstrate our love and acceptance of them. That's what true disciples do as we are called to serve. Let's make a few brief points about serving one another:

(1) Serve when you see a need. Many simply cannot serve a need without going through channels. They need permission or maybe a committee needs to be addressed. The NT church didn't do that. As the brethren went about, they served when needs arose. John spoke when you see your brother in need and have the ability to help, serve right there (I John 3:17)!

(2) Serve with the best you have. I know others have more goods or greater ability than we do at times but that's not the issue. Give what you do have. Give what God has given you to give and leave it at that. The Lord is pleased with such. Jesus spoke of giving a cup of water in His name. A cup of water! It's not trivial when that's the best you have. It thrills Jesus.

(3) Serve with wisdom. Sometimes we are asked for money from someone. Knowing their history, can we be sure the money will be used to feed an addiction or the family. I know many think we need to suspend judgment but we need to use some wisdom from above. If what we give doesn't help the need and is wasted or worse, it is of no value. We can be helping people stay in their condition. If we would be prayerful and wise in our service, we would realize it takes more than a room filled with clothes and canned good to do wise and effective benevolence. If our giving, our service to one another is part of submission to Christ, it merits close attention, thought, prayer and wisdom. A friend of mine, Jim McGuiggan said it best: "Benevolent bungling helps no one. Serve wisely!"

(4) Serve without broadcasting it. If God needs our service broadcast to others, let God work that out. We don't need to be sounding our own horns, sharing with others what we did or when we did it. If we are true servants of the Lord, let's be servants of the Lord and not in the eyes of others. My dad ran a tv and appliance business until his retirement, some 45 yrs. He did it well. My dad will go to his grave without others knowing (except what I am telling now) how he served others less fortunate by giving them stoves, refrigerators that they could not afford but needed for their family or themselves as a widow/widower. It cost my dad a lot of his own money (which he did not have) but thrilled his heart to serve his Lord in this way. Dad didn't need man's approval and applause! We need to serve without broadcasting. That's the heart of the humble.

I know there are many other things that could be said but today, I encourage each of us...SERVE! Serve without 'hoopla'!