This Service to the Saints— Part I.

Paul begins 2 Corinthians 9 by saying, “There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Saints,” v. 1.  This is the second of four times in these two chs. {8-9} where he refers to this offering for Jerusalem, this “generous gift” of grace, as a “service to the Saints.”  The first was in 8:4 where he said the Macedonians “urgently pleaded with us for the privilege [Wow ...I love this language.  It shows the glory of a gracious heart!] of sharing in this service to the Saints.”

Towards the end of ch. 9 he says, “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s People but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God,” v. 12.  See, that’s what grace does: it brings glory to God and not to self!  There is nothing of self to be glorified in an act of grace.  It is of God, from God and through God.  The one thing we supply is a willingness to be used by the Master’s hand.  Which is probably the number one reason why so many Children of God turn their hearts away from grace.  Like Pharisees of old, they lust for the approval of man rather than the reward of God; they seek “glory from one another,” but “do not seek the glory that comes from the One and Only God” {Jn. 5:44 NAS}!

Finally, in 9:13 Paul say’s, “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”  You know what the word Paul uses is in all four of these places?  Diakonia.  It’s a cognate of the term diakonos, from which we get our English ‘deacon;’ and both of them are derived from the root verb diakoneo which means- ‘wait upon as a servant, attend to others’ needs.’  Diakonos was a servant in the ancient world, not a master— he was a table-waiter, ‘one who executed the commands of another.’  Thus, inherent in all three of these terms is the root concept of ‘serving someone else.’

To look at this from another angle, diakoneo is the verb Peter uses when in 1 Peter 4:11 he appears to break the gifts of the Spirit down into two types: speaking and serving.  “When anyone faithfully communicates, he should do so as one speaking the very words of God.  When anyone faithfully and consistently serves, he should do so with the strength which God supplies...” {RR Exp}.  Anyone who’s ever stepped outside their own pain, heartache, and disillusionment long enough to serve someone else can tell you: God generously ‘supplies’ for His Servants.  God gives us the strength to complete the Service!  Here’s my point.  Since the Spirit of God has equipped you to serve, the Spirit of God will empower you to serve.  It’s not your strength, so don’t worry.  It never was and it never will be.  Trust in Him.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously