Made To Serve PB&J

When was the last time you put someone else's needs before your own? When was the last time you helped someone? In my life, this starts at home. During this season of homeschooling, e-learning, quarantining, and social distancing, my wife and I had to take on the roles of principal, teacher, cafeteria worker, and janitor. Like many of you, this was in addition to balancing our own work from home responsibilities. I learned that I was not smarter than a fifth grader, but I had an extraordinary talent in making the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. We all have been given a talent, a gift, an experience to help us serve others. During this time, we have had to consistently put ourselves last and put our children first. Even though there were some struggles, we knew what we were doing was good. Something inside each of us is drawn to doing good. And if you've ever been a part of something that seemed to truly help other people, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

But I also believe, when we hear or see the word "serve", we all feel it's a good idea, but it's not always easy to do. It is much easier for us to think someone else could do it or someone else should be doing it. It is out of our comfort zone to serve others. But what if God designed each of us as individuals with unique gifts and talents to help and to serve others? 

In a letter to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul writes this. 

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God created you so that you can do good and serve the people around you. As Christians, this is our purpose in life. It really is that simple. God designed everyone to excel-to have talents, experiences, skills and strengths to help and to serve others. Using your talents and skills can have a major impact on your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates and teammates. And in turn, it can have the biggest impact on you and your life. God cares deeply for the people around us and created us to serve them. He cares about the most seemingly insignificant details-like the ability to make a good PB&J. When we understand that, we will discover that we have a lot to give.

Here are a few questions that can help you get started: 

What are a few things about you that make you unique....a talent, an interest, a skill, an event in your life? 

What can you do with your gifts, talents, and experiences to help someone in the world around you? 

Where or who can you begin to help and serve? 

If you aren't sure what you're good at - ask or text someone you love and trust to tell you. 

God designed both who you would be and what you could do to help and serve others. When we pay attention to and serve the people around us, it pulls them into a bigger story. And at the same time, it draws us toward a life filled with purpose greater than anything we could ever create on our own. We are made to serve - even if it is just PB&J.

Russell