“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
The simple definition of a disciple is to be a follower of Christ. That little statement is quite easy to say, but not quite as easy to accomplish. To be a disciple of Christ almost automatically defines you as a person who serves others, and yet service is often something we shy away from, thinking of it as work rather than a way to show love.
Yet it is those who offer much service, without expecting anything in return, who are some of the most loved people in the world. Our best and brightest example of service is our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught the concept. He lived the concept. Every day of His life was spent serving someone in some way.
Service is one of the greatest hallmarks of followers of Christ. It is so important that leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon Church, placed it among a small group of essential standards teens of today should strive to remain strong in, and put these standards in a small booklet. For the Strength of Youth contains these standards, partnered with scripture and wise counsel given as a warning and a guideline to help keep teens out of danger in these treacherous times.
Why is service something we should hold strong to?
“Service to others is one of the most important characteristics of a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is willing to bear other people’s burdens and to comfort those who need comfort” (For the Strength of Youth, p.38).
As an example we are given the account of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25-37. A man had been beaten, robbed, and left by the side of the road. Two men, a priest and a Levite, both left him in this awful condition. In fact, they hurried off to the other side of the road, keeping as far from this man as possible.
Then came the Samaritan. It should be noted that feelings between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time were hostile, due to circumstances within their history. But Christ taught that this Samaritan was the one who stopped to check on the man. Not only did he stop, but when he witnessed the man’s injured condition he placed the man on his beast, and took him somewhere to be cared for. He even paid the innkeeper extra money for the man’s care, and promised to repay the innkeeper if the money wasn’t enough.
Christ referred to the Samaritan as the neighbor, or the man who showed mercy. Then he tells us to “go and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).
“There are many ways to serve others. You can serve in your church assignments and in your home, school, and community. Seek daily the guidance of the Holy Ghost to know whom to serve and how to help meet their needs. Often the most important service is expressed through simple, everyday acts of kindness” (For the Strength of Youth, p.38).
Serving those around us does not have to mean doing huge service projects. Service can mean being a shoulder to cry on, baking cookies for a friend or neighbor, helping your mom or dad do a few chores around the house and yard. Service can mean helping a younger sibling with their homework, reading to someone who’s eyes just don’t work as well anymore, or even mowing someone’s lawn without being asked.
The most amazing thing will happen as you strive to serve those around you.
“You will draw closer to Heavenly Father. Your heart will be filled with love. Your capacities will increase, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed” (For the Strength of Youth, p.38).
Before I end I’d like to offer up a challenge. It’s easy to love and serve those who are kind to us. But what about those who are not as kind? What about someone who grinds on your nerves, or is rude and not sorry about it, or who seems to push every button until you want to lash out? It’s not as easy to love them, but the Lord would have us try.
Herein lies my challenge. Find one person who you honestly can’t see loving and look for ways to serve him or her. Be it a family member, someone from school, or a person you know at church, look for ways to serve. Take the matter to the Lord in prayer and sincerely ask for a way to offer up some sort of service. Keep it going for a few weeks at least, and see if your attitude toward that person doesn’t change to something friendlier.
