Do you want: – the happiness and joy of living? – To improve your relationships? – To have a life with meaning and to leave your mark?

All this you will reach once you start to serve.

1. To Serve is the source of happiness and joy of living.

To serve others (without expecting in return) is the source of joy. “the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35)

The two secrets to reach the joy of living and happiness:

– Stop being self-centred.

* The more egocentric you are, more unhappy you will be. On the other hand, the more you give your life, the happier you will be.

* Happy people are the ones that help the most.

Joy and happiness come from the gift of oneself, of the gift for love. “Be concerned not only with your own interests but also with those of others” (Philippians 2:4)

– Use your belongings and gifts to help others

“Like good stewards of the varied graces of God, use whatever gift each one of you has received to serve one another.” (1Peter 4:10,11)

“to share your bread with the hungry and to offer shelter to the homeless poor, to clothe the naked when you behold them and not turn your back on your own kin. Then your light will break forth like the Dawn, and your wound will quickly be healed. (Isaiah 58:7)

2. To serve allows you to better your relationships

– Selfishness is the root of most of our problems.  

“Na ignorant man causes strife by his insolence…” (Proverbs 13:10)

–  Life is a school to learn to be generous.

“the Son of Man did not come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28)

– If you want to be popular start serving disinterestedly. 

* Take interest in the people around you and they will reciprocate.

“The one who serves Christ in such things is pleasing to God and respected by others” (Romans 14:18)

* When you bless you are blessed.

“One who is kindly will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9)

Mother Theresa syndrome: she started taking care of the poorest of Calcutta and some years later wherever she went everyone wanted listen.   

3. To serve others fills your life of meaning and leaves a legacy.

– If you want to find meaning to your life, give yourself.

God made us to give our life like he gave his to us.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35,36)

– When you die, what do you want to be said of you?

“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted then your light will rise in darkness and your night will become like midday” (Isaiah 58:10) How brightly shined the light of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Luther King, John Paul II and so many others. “The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away.” (Proverbs 10:7)

– Of whom do you want honours, men or God?

“If anyone wishes to serve me, he must follow me. Where I am, there also will my servant be. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour that person” (John 12:26)

“For God would not be so unjust as to ignore your work and the love you have shown for his name by the service you have rendered to the saints and still continue to render” (Hebrews 6:10)

SFS

– Take interest in someone: ask the name of someone you meet every day, but don’t know.

– Share: buy a coffee to someone in need.

– Serve: offer help to someone you see needs aid.