Improving Your Serve: Why Your "Serve" Really Matters

“Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”

Matthew 22:36-39 CEV

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking Him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

Luke 10:25-28 NLT

THREE THOUGHT PROVOKING TRUTHS FROM THESE TEXTS

1. LOVING GOD AND OTHERS IS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.

2. LOVING GOD AND OTHERS HAS ETERNAL IMPLICATIONS.

3. LOVING GOD AND OTHERS DEMANDS SERVING PEOPLE.

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story.

Luke 10:29-30 NLT

NOTE: Becoming like Christ must be

more important than justifying myself.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN CAN HELP ME “IMPROVE MY SERVE” IF…

I See the Opportunity.

“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man…”

Luke 10: 31-33a NLT

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

John 4:35 NIV

I Engage my Heart.

Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.

Luke 10: 33 NLT

When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 NIV

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion…

Colossians 3:12a NIV

I Rearrange my priorities.

Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.

Luke 10:34 NLT

Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Philippians 2:4 MP

I should never risk my soul to keep my schedule.

I Validate my faith.

“Now which of these would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke 10:36, 37 NLT

My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do. That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth…

1 John 3:18-19a ERV

Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! Suppose someone disagrees and says, "It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds." I would answer, "Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them.

James 2:17, 18 CEV

I Enlist others to help.

Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, “Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.”

Luke 10:34b, 35 NLT