When I was younger, I did not enjoy doing certain chores around the house. However, when my mom was pregnant with my younger sister, I saw all that was involved with her pregnancy and realized that she went through the same for me. I gained a deeper respect and love for my parents who were raising their children with such care. From then on, I wanted to do anything I could to say “thank you” with my actions more than just my words. I gladly did chores I was assigned and even looked for more opportunities to help around the house. Realizing how much my parents have done for me, and continue to do, filled me with a desire to do more for them in return. Similarly, when we love God and recognize all that He has given us, we can decide to serve Him and His people by our freewill choice.
Our heavenly Father has done so much for us. He created the universe to support the earth and the earth to support mankind. But that is not all.
John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loved us so greatly that He gave His only Son for us. By doing so, He made it possible for anyone who believes Romans 10:9 to receive His gift of holy spirit, becoming a son or daughter of God and getting saved from the dominion of the god of this world, the Devil.
When we realize the extent of all that God has given us, we want to do His Word and His commandments (I John 5:3); we want to please Him. We can do that by serving Him and His people.
I Corinthians 16:15:
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints).
The word “addicted” in our day and time has a different meaning than it did at the time the King James Version of the Bible was translated. The primary meaning of “addict” or “addicted” at that time was to voluntarily attach or devote oneself as a servant or adherent to a person or cause.
The word “ministry” in I Corinthians 16:15 means service or attendance. The household of Stephanas had voluntarily devoted themselves to be of service to the believers, to care for them. They were not forced; they chose to do so as a result of their thankfulness for what God had given them. This is such a great example of how believers can choose to serve to a greater degree as they love God and are thankful for His deeds in their lives.
God has called us to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
We get to determine how we are to use our liberty, our freedom. God exhorts us to not use our liberty as “an occasion to the flesh.” “Flesh” in this verse represents the old-man nature. We don’t use our liberty to satisfy selfish desires that exclude a genuine concern for the welfare of others. We want to use our freedom to care for and do good to others, especially to them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
God has accomplished a great deal for us, and we have free will to serve Him. We are thankful for all that He has given us. Because our heart is overflowing with love for God, we choose to serve Him and His people. Our love for God and our thankfulness to Him fuel our service and are reflected in how big we freely give.