In recent years, I have seen an alarming trend in some parts of the church that is a move away from unselfish service as a people of God, in the name of finding fulfillment in our own individual purposes. In certain quarters, there is also a self-centered view of God portraying Him as a Santa Claus type figure who lives for nothing more than to bless and prosper His children. Still others see God in a narrow metophorical sense only. For instance, there are some teachers who portray Jesus as nothing more than an emotional bridegroom, pining away in heaven waiting for us – the church – to be physically reunited with him as His bride. I will not attempt to address any of these teachings separately on their own merits, because at the heart of each one of them is self-absorption, not the selflessness that Christ modeled.So what does it mean for Christians to serve God, both as individuals and as a church?First, let us look at how Jesus modeled unselfish service in the proper way to His disciples. Even though He was the Son of God, He actually physically washed their feet to show them He indeed practiced what He preached. Did this mean He was no longer their Lord, when He told them afterward that no servant was greater than His master? Of course not. What Jesus was illustrating is that no act of service we do, and no purpose of ours, no matter how holy or motivated it is makes it or us greater than God’s purposes. So lesson number one in all Christian service is that nothing we do, say or think should take precedence over what Christ has already done, and how He instructs us to act as his followers.There are also many who say we don’t need to obey the Bible’s instructions any more because we are now under a covenant of grace, God’s unmerited favor, and unconditional love. While that is true, it is an incomplete picture of God which causes many to erroneously believe He lives only to serve us by fulfilling our needs, and we can continue in our sin without repentance. That is actually a gnostic belief of antinomianism, that taught that salvation was for the soul only, and bodily behavior was irrelevant to God. Frends, that is not what Christ, who is the Word made flesh, taught:” 8My (A)Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so (B)prove to be My disciples.” 9″Just as (C)the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”10″(D)If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as (E)I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”11″(F)These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your (G)joy may be made full.”Disciples’ Relation to Each Other:12″This is (H)My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”13″(I)Greater love has no one than this, that one (J)lay down his life for his friends.”14″You are My (K)friends if (L)you do what I command you.”15″No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for (M)all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”16″(N)You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and (O)bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that (P)whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” 17″This (Q)I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:8-17)”Cross references:John 15:8 : Matt 5:16 – AJohn 15:8 : John 8:31- BJohn 15:9 : John 3:35; 17:23, 24, 26 John 15:10 -CJohn 14:15 – DJohn 15:10 : John 8:29 – EJohn 15:11 : John 17:13- FJohn 15:11 : John 3:29- GJohn 15:12 : John 13:34; 15:17; 1 John 3:23; 2 John 5 -HJohn 15:13 : Rom 5:7 -IJohn 15:13 : John 10:11- JJohn 15:14 : Luke 12:4 -KJohn 15:14 : Matt 12:50- LJohn 15:15 : John 8:26; 16:12 -MJohn 15:16 : John 6:70; 13:18; 15:19 -NJohn 15:16 : John 15:5 -OJohn 15:16 : John 14:13; 15:7; 16:23 -PJohn 15:17 : John 15:12 -Q(I encourage you to look up all the cross references to the verses in this passage, so you will get a complete understanding of all the passage encompasses regarding what Christ says about our service and our relations to others, as well as His relationship to us. I believe you will find many direct answers to your questions by doing this. )So we know what Christ says about what our Christian service should be, but doesn’t God promise to do certain things for us as His beloved children, as well? Of course. Christianity is not a one-way ticket to nowhere. We never serve God in vain, because God rewards us either here or in heaven. God, as our heavenly Father and our Creator, fulfills our need for love, security and protection, as well as giving us the talents and gifts we need to survive and prosper in this world. To show that, He sent his Son, Jesus Christ to give us that life more abundantly, then to have eternal life with Him, and to provide a real life role model for how we are to live and to serve on this earth. God also provided a divine counselor, in the form of the Holy Spirit who indwells us when we accept Christ as our Savior. The job of the Holy Spirit is not to act on His own, but to testify to what Christ says, and to guide us, comfort us, convict us of sin, and lead us to all truth.However, as our Father, God still retains His full authority over us, the earthly family He created for His pleasure, just as we do over the children in our homes in whom we take pleasure in providing for. He also has certain expectations of us. As our provider, God retains the right to grant us the things He thinks we most need at the time. That’s why we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, because God stills retains control of both. As our divine disciplinarian, He trains us as beloved sons and daughters (Hebrews 12:5-11) to help us develop endurance, and grow into righteousness. When we are old enough, He expects us to follow Christ’s example and serve others in turn. In modeling Christ, He expects us to act out our faith, not just by words, but in actions and in truth. (I John 3:18)Friends, both as individuals and as a church, it’s essential for us to look fully at our roles as God’s children within the complete context of His Word, so we won’t wind up bedazzled or misled by every new fad in teaching that comes along, disguising itself as being the “latest thing” from God. God does not change His teaching from generation to generation, as people do. Because once He gives his word on a matter, it’s a done deal for all eternity. We can take it to the bank. That’s why it’s important to be wary of teachings that claim they are new methods or revelations from God, even if they look good and sound plausible on the surface. Remember that’s the same trick Eve fell for. If you receive any theology, claiming any “new” revelation that can’t be tested by scripture, or takes scripture out of context to prove another agenda, avoid it. God says He already has given us all the instructions and equipping we need pertaining to life and Christian service in the scriptures ( II Timothy 3:16) Since the Bible is “The Word became flesh that walked among us” to dismiss it out of hand as a mere book of outdated rules, is to separate God from His truth. This another another tactic satan used to deceive Eve, when he put doubt in her mind by asking her if God really said she should not eat of the forbidden fruit. However, to just blame satan for our deception or our sins, or even standing in the way of our Christian service is also wrong. God has equipped each of us to serve in some way. No matter who we are or where we are, or what our talents we can in some way be of service in God’s kingdom.Someone once gave me a simple but graphic example of just what happens when we Christians accept salvation, then concentrate on our own purposes, and operate out of our own system of beliefs: When we have our eyes on ourselves, we have our backs turned to Jesus, and when we have our eyes on Jesus our backs are turned to ourselves.So judge for yourselves: Which is it going to be for you as a Christian – a life of selfishness or a life of selflessness?