A few months ago, I attended a church youth camp. As one of the youth leaders, I served the team in various ways, from helping with meal preparations to coordinating activities like wake-up times, kitchen clean-up, and ensuring everyone was cared for and the program stayed on track. The days were full and physically demanding. In the three days I was there, my body grew weary yet my soul was being refined by the work God was doing within me. Here are three lessons about service and joy.
Serve in Humility
As I was about to head out to the youth camp a friend of mine reminded me of Philippians 2:8. This verse set the tone for my heart throughout the weekend. Serving demands humility; and as we serve others, we learn and grow in humility.
As we serve others we learn humility.
When doing the work of God through serving his people it’s easy to grumble. “Why me?” “Do I have to?” But if we decide to do God’s work, especially the unglamorous kind, then our hearts’ posture should be that of humility. For if the Son of God was able to humble himself to serve us through his work and ministry, even to the point of death, even death on a cross, then who are we not to do the same (Philippians 2:5-8)? Remembering Christ’s service is a boon to both our joy and our service.
Serve With Thanksgiving
When we serve God through serving his people, our heart posture should echo Psalm 115:1. “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory.” It is an honour to serve the King of kings, even when we’re tired and our work goes unnoticed. So, serve the Lord with gladness. Don’t grumble or complain (Philippians 2:14-15).
Serve with gladness because a promise awaits those who remain faithful.
In the Bible, we see that when the Israelites grumbled against God—even after he’d freed them from slavery and met their daily needs—their grumbling was a fruit of unbelief that led to judgment (Numbers 14:26-30; Hebrews 3:18-19). Grumbling or complaining isn’t a small thing in the face of God’s promises. It is rooted in unbelief. Therefore, let us serve with gladness and thanksgiving. For a greater promise awaits those who remain faithful.
Serve Unto the Lord
During the camp, I was reminded that God is the lifter and rewarder of man. He is the God who sees all of our service. I learned that when there is work set before us, we should do it to the best of our ability. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward” (Colossians 3:23-24). It is our Master and Father in heaven who will reward you.
Enter His Joy, Through Service
God sees your heart and your service. He may bless you here on earth, but the greatest reward is not earthly recognition— it is God himself. When we enter his eternal joy, we receive eternal life and the fullness of his presence, which is our ultimate treasure.
The greatest reward is not earthly recognition— it is God himself.
Matthew 25:21-23 declares that on that day God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master.” Those who do God’s work faithfully will be rewarded not only by God but with him. “In [God’s] presence there is fullness of joy; at [his] right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Therefore, faithful service leads us to eternal rest and joy found only in him.
