Share The Joy

I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

Philippians 2:17

We’ve all heard the slogan “Share the love.” In Paul’s precious thank-you letter to the Philippian church, he tells God’s people to “share that joy.”

What joy is he talking about? The joy that comes from faithful service found in obedience to God. Just like one of my favorite hymnlines says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Your faithful service will look different from mine. You and I need to be encouraged that any faithful service—whether it be housekeeping, child rearing, or running a business—can glorify God just as much as serving in a soup kitchen or preaching a sermon.

Even though you may not be called to be a Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school leader, or attend a women’s Bible study because of work responsibilities, whatever you do for God by being available to others counts as faithful service. There is no extra credit for being in full-time Christian work, and there is no reduced reward for simply living faithfully and reaching out from the little corner of the world where God has placed us.

Whether we are serving our family a meal, taking a meal to someone in need, calling a friend, sending a word of encouragement by mail or e-mail, composing a sweet tweet or text, or inviting an acquaintance into our homes, let’s give generously of all we have—“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Joy is a by-product of obedience to God. Faithful service pours out of us when we have offered ourselves wholeheartedly to God in obedience. In return, He showers us with the joy of being useful for His work.

Let’s share the joy of serving faithfully!