| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 1 |
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But there is something higher and diviner yet than even work alone. Work may be selfish. It may be solely for the advancement of one’s own interests, without any thought of another’s benefit or comfort. Even then there is blessing in it; for it fills the hands and occupies the thoughts – there is good in occupation itself. But if we add to work the element of serving, with love and thought of others, we have one of the noblest of all the secrets of joy.
Serving comes from loving; it is love’s expression. Serving that is not inspired by love yields no joy. Love that does not serve is not love at all. The measure of self denial that one is ready to suffer is the measure of the love that is in one’s heart. Love that will not sacrifice is only a sentiment, a fair blossom from which no fruit comes. Love is ready always for serving.
Wherever we see life in its best forms and developments, it has in it the element of service. In every glimpse of heavenly life shown to us in the Bible, we find service as the highest expression of the life’s spirit. The angels, who appear, coming and going between heaven and earth, are always engaged in service for some of God’s children. Their mission is described in one sentence: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” They come to earth expressly to serve. We know that the angels possess the secret of joy; they are represented as praising God continually. It is the joy of service that fills their hearts. Never a thought of self poisons their pure gladness.
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