What is your motive when you serve? Do your sacrificial efforts result in joy?
Paul invited the church at Philippi to join with others in community to humbly serve like Christ: “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17). Paul noted that enemies of Christ have destruction as their destiny. Their god is their stomach; their glory is their shame; and their mind is on earthly things (Philippians 3:19). Contrastingly, as believers, our destiny is to be shaped like Christ. He is our God; our glory is in Him; and our minds are set on heavenly things (Philippians 3:20-21).
Join with other believers to humbly serve like Christ. Search for someone in need, even a past offender in your life, and recruit your small group or rally a few believing friends to meet that need. Avoid receiving benefit or credit.
Accomplishments become embarrassments when we shoot at the wrong goal. Joy comes from believing in Christ; however, if we think that we can earn our way to salvation by keeping the law, we will be embarrassed at judgment. When we become aware of our legalistic efforts, we are in a position to surrender them to Christ, who turns us toward the goal of love, so that we may serve in community.