Serving Matters: Why?

In a world that constantly pulls us toward self-focus, Jesus invites us into a different way of living: one where loving Him and loving others are beautifully intertwined. What if every small act of generosity was actually an act of worship? And what if inviting our kids into that story helped them see Jesus more clearly? Meck's Hygiene Drive is a great way to do that!

 

If you’ve spent any time in church, you’ve likely heard that serving matters. But why? Certainly, it is a way that we can love others well, that we join into community as we offer our time and effort as a way to build relationships around us. But those are happy by-products of a larger reason Christians are meant to be servant-hearted in all that we do. 

In the New Testament book of Matthew (25:35-40) Jesus tells us this:

 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

You see, serving isn’t just a way that we love people (which is named by Jesus as the second greatest commandment in Matthew 22:39); it is a way that we embody our love for Jesus (which He names as the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-38.) 

When we step outside of a focus on ourselves and give our time, money, and energy to those who need it most, we are acting on behalf of and in service to Jesus. This is all part of the amazing design God has put into place to bring the world closer to Him. When followers of Christ express their love for Him through service, we simultaneously care for the people God loves and show those who don’t know Him what Jesus is like. He is loving, caring, kind, gentle, and generous. 

This is what we reflect to the world when we focus our attention on our neighbors rather than ourselves. Life with Jesus isn’t about rule-keeping or obedience (though again, those are by-products of doing life with Jesus), it’s about loving relationships with God and the people around us. 

How to Serve with Meck

Meck offers so many ways we can do this, and luckily we can easily bring our kids into the mix to give them a sense of how serving reflects Jesus and allows us to live out the things we say we believe about Him. One that happens annually is our Hygiene Drive in partnership with Hope Vibes. 

Hope Vibes is a Charlotte organization that seeks to restore dignity to our unhoused neighbors by providing simple resources we often take for granted. Clean clothes and showers via their Hope Tank, and hygiene products via donations from local partners like us! 

Seasonally, on the Meck website you’ll find a list of needed supplies you can donate, and how to drop them off and delivered to the right hands. But, don’t stop there. While we can conveniently add items to a virtual cart and even have them delivered to us, we can step into the lives of these neighbors by really considering what our donations can do, and how God wants to use us to meet the needs of those around us. 

Below are some prayers that will help center your family on the role we play by serving others. You can post these in your bathroom to pray while you brush teeth and wash faces before bed, or put them in the car to pray before you shop or drop off your donation. However you choose to do it, we hope this will serve as a reminder that God chose to use you to meet the needs of those He loves! 

There is no shortage of resources to go around, only a shortage of people willing to share what they have. In a world marked by greed and self-concern, we want to be a light of sacrifice, generosity, and love – just like the God we aim to reflect. 

Prayer for shopping or drop off

Generous God, You never hold back on us.
You don’t hold back in your grace,
You don’t hold back in your love,
And you never hold back in what you sacrifice for our benefit. 

As we gather small offerings to serve our neighbors,
Let our hearts be marked with a generosity like Yours.
One that doesn’t hold back. 

Help us to see that the small ways we love others -
Through gifts of toothpaste and soap -
Have a big impact on the way the world sees who You are. 

Thank you for the gift of being able to join You
In showing others how loving and good You are.
Keep our minds alert to ways we can serve others in the way You do,
Not just during drives and serve days,
But in all moments of our lives.
Amen. 

Prayer for remembering ‘the least of these’

God, Who made our teeth, hair, and skin
As we care for our bodies before crawling into bed,
Turn our minds to all of those who don’t have what they need
To carry out the same nighttime rituals. 

As we brush our teeth,
We pray for Your protection over each human
who doesn’t sleep under a solid roof. 

As we wash our face and body,
We pray for provision for each human
who didn’t have enough of what they needed today.

As we put on our clean pajamas,
We pray for Your peace and comfort over every human
who lacks what they need to be seen by the world with dignity.

Help us to remember that we are Your solution to these problems. 
Help us to see that your generosity and kindness acting through us
Can stamp the world with a love that is only experienced by Your presence.
Amen

 

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