SERVE WITH A SMILE

“SERVE WITH A SMILE”. This thought came to me as I was reading this statement of St. Paul to the Corinthians : “Let each one give what he decided upon personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor.9:7)

Service is something every human being in this world has to render to humanity in one way or another according to his capacity and the situation he is in. How he renders this service would depend much on how he sees its significance and his accountability for its performance.

The significance of a service depends on how one sees its objective or purpose. In this connection, I recall an anecdote of two laborers who were carrying bricks during a construction project. When asked what they were doing, the first one said: “I am just transferring these bricks to another place.” while the second one replied: “I am helping to build a Cathedral.” Evidently the first one saw only the tiresome job of carrying bricks, but the second one saw the Vision of Building a Cathedral, and this filled him with joy in doing his job.

As to one’s accountability in rendering a service, much also depends on how one sees the AUTHORITY to whom he is accountable. If the authority is a human being just like himself, he may perform the service to please a human being. But if he sees GOD Himself as the One to Whom he has to render an accounting, he would surely give his utmost best in doing his job, for GOD, the Supreme Being in this world, deserves the best from all His creatures.

Pondering on the significance and accountability for service, I was further intrigued by the statement: “One can serve without loving, but one cannot love without serving.” To my mind this statement gives me the reason for serving, and that is: LOVE.

Love can be manifested in many ways and SERVICE is one of the best ways. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself modeled this as He put into action what He said: “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28)

Hence, when one serves out of love, his heart is filled with joy for the opportunity given him to render something good for another. This should make him SERVE WITH A SMILE.

by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 18, 2010