“I see Reinhold Niebuhr, for instance, in a beret with the wind ballooning out his raincoat as he walks his poodle along Riverside Drive. A stroke had left his speech slightly indistinct at times and one arm less than fully functional, but he always gave me the impression of great energy and wit, great involvement in the events of his time. He had been Roosevelt’s adviser. He was Auden’s friend. There seemed to be no phase of human history that he didn’t have at his fingertips, no eminence that he couldn’t have attained in any field where he’d chosen to attain it; but it was to the church that he gave himself in all its shabbiness as well as all its glory…” (Buechner, Frederick. Listening to Your Life. HarperOne. Kindle Edition.)

The Greek word “Diakonia” is the word from the bible usually rendered as “service” or “ministering to others.” As such, the gift of serving is having the desire and ability to help others, and to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. Serving can also be referred to as “ministering,” of which the Greek word “Diakonia” (from which we get the English “deacon”) means service of any kind or helping those in need.

What are the biblical examples of service?  2 Corinthians 9:12-13 states “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God”.  Or, Acts 6:1 says “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”

Reinhold Niebuhr was an American Reformed theologian, ethicist, and professor at Union Theological Seminary for more than 30 years. His impact on Christian thinking cannot be understated. Buechner’s description of him as he encountered him in his later years demonstrates what kind of impact we can have simply by living the “Christ-like” life to the end of our lives.  

Serving others in the name of Christ can come in so many different forms, and there are so many needs in the church, the community and in the world.  Service does not require a lot of money, just the time and the interest in living out the Gospel message to love your neighbor each and every day. 

Pastor Dave