Serving, Even When We Don’t Feel Like It.
According to an article published in 2020 at Creative Volunteer, 90% of Americans want to volunteer, but only 3 out of 4 ever do.
I was introduced to volunteerism through the Boy Scouts of America as a young man. I volunteered time to earn merit badges and advance in rank (I am an Eagle Scout). Through those experiences, I learned the joy of serving others. Volunteering became a part of my DNA. Now my life and vocational calling center upon service.
A cultural surge among young people today is to give time and energy to social causes they care about. This is a good thing, but it was a God thing before government and secular organizations capitalized on our God-given desire to benefit others.
Statistics show that volunteering (especially after age 65) promotes a healthier and happier life. Volunteering promotes emotional support and assists retirees in developing a robust social life.
Younger families with children often find it challenging to volunteer time because of the demands of work and raising children. Two-income families are busy. Their energy is drained as they juggle energetic toddlers and a 50 to 60-hour work week. Adding volunteer responsibilities on top of that doesn’t rank high on the priority list.
But whether you are young or not, a common excuse for not serving others is found in these words, “I just don’t feel like it!” I get it. Yet, the call upon the life of every believer is one of service: to our Triune God and our neighbor.
My goal in this Bible study is to challenge you to reconsider that calling and hear the voice of the Spirit leading you to impact the lives of others. In other words, “to serve, even when we don’t feel like it.”
Two-by-Two
As we think about serving others, let’s consider the familiar story about fish and loaves in Mark 6:30-44. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus sent the disciples about two-by-two with authority to over impure spirits (Mark 6:7b).
Before leaving, Jesus instructs them not to take any unneeded things: no bread, no bag, and no money (Mark 6:8). All they needed were their sandals, a staff, and the will to obey Christ’s call. Traveling in pairs, the disciples entered a town and stayed. If their message was received, then they continued to preach there. If not, Jesus permitted them to shake the dust off and move on (Mark 6:8-11). These disciples preached repentance and they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (Mark 6:13).
In just seven verses Mark summarizes a lot of ministry activity. Take a moment to consider what Christ has called them to do: walk untold miles, depend on others for food, and give everything to the task of calling sinners to turn to God while battling the forces of Hell (not to mention those humans who rejected their message). I get exhausted just reading the story!
A Brief Intermission by Mark
Before we get to hear the stories of the disciple's exploits, Mark’s gospel takes a strange turn in verse fourteen. Mark inserts the story of John the Baptist’s beheading between sending out disciples and the fishes and loaves. Why?
I won’t spend much time focusing on this, but the abrupt transition in the story needs some explaining. Mark 6 begins with Jesus being rejected by His own family (verses 1-4). A similar theme of rejection shows up in the disciples being sent to preach. Remember, if some reject the message of repentance, the disciples are to move on to another place. Mark recounts the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. He prefaces the story with these words Jesus’ name had become well known (Mark 6:14a) and then tells the bizarre story of Herod’s rejection of John’s call for him to repent. The end of that story is John’s death.
I believe Mark’s theme highlights the impending rejection of Jesus’s message and His position as Messiah. Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). As Christ's followers, we can expect rejection from many, but we are secure in the grace of the Lord.
Now Back to the Story, Kind Of…
The curtain falls on John’s beheading and rises on the disciples returning from their missionary journeys. Like all good missionaries, they are expected to give a report of their activities. People want to hear the stories! Mark 6:30 says: The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. That’s it! No tales of fighting demons or wrestling lions. No boisterous testimonies of miracles and wonders. Just a report: this is what we did and what we taught.
Serving Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
Mark 6:31 pivots from the story we want to hear to another story about fishes and loaves. But the point of this story is not the multiplication of meat and starch to feed the hungry. The point of this story is that even when you are rejected, tired, and feel like you’ve given everything you’ve got; Jesus will honor your obedience and provide for you everything you need to keep serving.
The disciples were hungry. They were tired. But they could not get their reports to Jesus because people kept coming in and out to see Him. I think Jesus senses their frustration and says, “Hey guys, let’s go out on the boat where it’s quiet. Then we can talk” (my paraphrase of Mark 6:31b-32).
I think the disciples said, “Yes, finally, some alone time with Jesus. We can rest and recharge without all the interruptions.” But this is not what happens:
But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep with no shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Mark 6:33-34).
Let your mind create a picture of this scene. The disciples thought they were getting away from the crowds. They thought they were getting quality time with Jesus. Their hopes are dashed. Jesus showed compassion on the crowd but Mark 6:36 shows the visceral reaction of the disciples:
Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.
Jesus does not allow their attitudes to go unchallenged:
You give them something to eat (Mark 6:37a)
In that short statement, Jesus calls them to serve, even when they do not feel like serving. They respond to Jesus by explaining they have no money, they’re in a remote place, and even if we had money why should we spend it on them?
Jesus deftly responds to their complaint with a non-answer. Yes, Jesus just ignores them and says, “How many loaves do you have…go and see” (Mark 6:38a). You know the story. Five loaves and a few fish feed the multitude and the disciples gather up leftovers.
There is, however, something in the miracle of multiplication that jumped out at me recently: the attitude of Jesus modeled before the disciples. Let me summarize His attitude about serving in five words:
Receive: Jesus received the fish and loaves knowing the Father provides. We serve, not from our own strength and resources, but from what God provides. When we depend on ourselves then our resources will soon be tapped out.
Look Up: Jesus saw the crowd and recognized their need for food. Finding opportunities to show others the compassion and love of God is not hard, just look up. After all, God has already provided the resources. Now He simply asks us to put them to work.
Give Thanks: Jesus blessed what God provided. If God is our supplier, then we always have reason to give thanks — even when those resources seem scarce. You and I do not possess the ability to take a meager meal and feed thousands. But our Triune God does. Giving thanks for what God provides is where we begin.
Share: Jesus told the disciples to distribute the meal and they watched a miracle happen. When we serve others, the opportunity to share in the grace of God grows exponentially. We receive so much from God and He expects us to share with others.
I understand the weariness that comes from serving others. But I also know the joy and sense of satisfaction that comes when I push through my flesh and walk in obedience. I am not arguing that one must burn themselves out or somehow think service will save them. My goal is to encourage you to see the needs in front of you, use the resources God has provided, and trust God for everything.
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