The spiritual discipline of service means choosing to do something for someone else (often in secret) without expecting anything else in return. Service involves seeing a need and meeting that need without expecting thanks or any type of reciprocity. Service is a way of learning to value others and cultivate a heart of compassion.
Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant. He laid aside all the privileges of divinity to become human, walk alongside people, and willingly die on the cross to make a way for people to be saved from sin and restored in a relationship with God. He healed people, fed people, taught people, and loved people. The night before he died, Jesus performed the lowly task of a servant and washed his disciples’ feet (John 13).
Out of his heart of love and compassion, Jesus served. He called his followers to do the same. As people serve others, they cooperate with the Holy Spirit in their own transformation. As they serve, the Holy Spirit works in them to cultivate eyes that see and value other people. Repeatedly practicing the discipline of service causes someone to develop a heart of compassion that will eventually serve others instinctually because serving has become part of their character. They will no longer have to plan to serve; they will serve automatically. When people serve secretly, without drawing attention to their work, they develop a character marked by humility. Someone who is humble neither thinks too highly of themselves, nor thinks less of themselves; they just think about themselves less.1 Someone who is humble grounds their identity not in what they do, but in whose they are — a child of God and a follower of Jesus.
They understand there is nothing they can do to make God love them more or love them less. They know they are fully loved by God — period. Out of this identity grounded in God’s love, they become people who love. As they love, they serve and do it just because that is who they are. There is no need for attention or reward.