SLC III–True Service vs. Self-righteous Service #dumcMY #fb

Rev. Dr. Tan Siang Yang, 07/05.2011
This session refers to the Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
Spiritual discipline is not only available in Christianity. For us, it is about being intimate with God.
In his book, Richard Foster listed the Discipline of Service as one of the spiritual discipline.

a. Characteristics of True Service

1. It comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside (i.e. deep friendship with Jesus)

Servanthood is serving our Best Friend. It is a joy. Bill Hybel suggested we look for 3 Cs when we select a leader

• Character (is the person filled with the Spirit? Character cannot be compromised. It takes years to form)
• Competency (skillsets, talents, ability, spiritual gifts, theological training, credentials. There is a tendency to over-emphasize this C.)
• Chemistry – church ministry is a team ministry

The most important C is the Character.

2. It finds it impossible to distinguish the small from the large service

A true servant of Jesus doesn’t care about doing great things for God but rather doing things for a Great God. He (God) will transform the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Everything in the Kingdom of God counts.

We must be always like little children, be childlike in front of Jesus. Our spiritual life should be childlike but not childish. Growing up in Christ is to become more childlike – trusting, helpless, dependent, relaxed.

We focus on what counts but God is looking at what counts in eternity.

3. It rests contented in hiddenness.

A true servant of Christ who engage in true service doesn’t need to tell. Share with the spouse or the prayer partners. If we share it with a lot of people, what we do doesn’t count anymore. Hiddenness, anonymity and secrecy is the key.

4. It is free of the need to calculate results

When we get too quantitative, we are off true service. Rev. Dr. Tan’s church has a Chinese congregation with 150 members every year. Some 20 to 25 of them are students. Every year, about 20 to 25 of them graduating and about the same number of new students. We should not be misled by statistics. We have to look at some numbers to be accountable but do not be bounded by numbers. The numbers must be interpreted accurately.

5. It is indiscriminate in its ministry (i.e. it serves one and all equally)

Don’t pick and choose who to serve.

6. It ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need (i.e. regardless of feelings.)

We are s servant first before we can serve in a ministry. If it is not our lifestyle, we cannot serve without whining and complaining.

7. It is a lifestyle (i.e. servanthood for life in all of life)

8. It can withhold the service as freely as it performs it.

We are under no obligation or compulsion to do something. Do not use the world’s criteria, use God’s, i.e. his will.

9. It builds community.

True service comes from gentle love for others. It always builds up community. If we are doing what Jesus wants us to do, we will build up one another.

b. Characteristics of Self-righteous Service

1. It comes through human efforts (i.e. usually with much planning and programming and little or no prayer.)

It comes from the ego. The purpose is to show off.

2. It is impressed with the “big deal” (because it is ultimately self-centred or ego-focused.)

Do not be pre-occupied with big deals and bigger deals. Don’t get so impressed with the big things.

Don’t ignore the smaller things. When God calls us to do big things, do it humbly. The real big deal is God. The others don’t matter.

3. It required external rewards.

If we stop serving when we don’t get the reward (recognition, etc), we are serving with the wrong motives.

4. It is highly concerned with results (and statistics!)

Do no the concerned with results. Don’t fish for compliments.

5. It picks and chooses whom to serve.

We serve whoever God calls us to serve.

6. It is affected by mood and whims  (i.e. feelings rule the service rather than service rules the feelings.)

Do we care whether anyone thank us?

7. It is temporary.

It doesn’t last long. Gives up easily.

8. It is insensitive.

It is sensitive only to the ego and pride. It is insensitive to the community.

9. It fractures community.

It is not based on team spirit.

“Ultimately, self-righteous service centres in the glorification of the individual” (Tan, Full Service, 2006. p 69)

c. The SHAPE of True Service (from rick Warren, The Purpose-Drive Life)

Rev. Dr. Tan said Rick Warren really meant Purpose-directed.

Spiritual Gifts

Heart

Abilities

Availability could be more important than abilities.

Personality

Experience

Rick Warren thinks the best things we can do comes from the most painful experience in our lives.
We need to examine ourselves to see if we are providing true service or serving self-righteously or a mixture of both.

The church needs us to come up and serve. There are many lost souls out there. Let’s put our hands on the plough and do not look back.