Here are 5 Biblical Examples about Serving Others in the Body of Christ:

Serving Christ by Serving Others – Matthew 25

How often I have read right by Matthew 25:35-36 where Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”  The saints didn’t see the connection to Jesus statement “For I was…” but then realized His point: “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).  When we serve others, Jesus sees it as doing “it to Me.”

God Remembers – Hebrews 6

I heard one preacher say that God will not forget what we do in serving others, even if no one else hears about it.  The author of Hebrews wrote, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10).  Others may be unjust in that they do not even say “Thank you,” but we do it for God anyway, and God will not “overlook your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving the saints.”  Even if others forget, God never will!

Old Testament Saints – 1 Peter 1

Believe it or not, the Old Testament saints or prophets were actually prophesying “the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories” (1 Peter 1:11). Perhaps without even realizing it, “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12).  The Bible says they were actually serving us, even before we were born!

Mary Serving Jesus – John 12

It was just before Passover, but also just before Calvary that Mary “took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3). Mary’s gift was not just a “Thank you” card, but actually worth “300 denarii,” and the value of that gift, meant for His coming burial, was worth about $54,509 in U.S. dollars.  Serving others may mean being sacrificial in giving. Jesus did say that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).  Undoubtedly, Mary showed exactly where her heart was.  It was devoted to Jesus Christ!  She proved she was truly following Jesus Christ (John 12:26).

Greatness and Serving – Matthew 23

We might think, in our sinful nature, that serving is being seen by others and being served by others, but greatness is not measured in how many serve us, but in how many we serve!  Jesus proves this point by saying, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11). I know a man of God who does just that!  Not only does he serve others, and without acclaim, but he is also humble, so God will exalt him someday…maybe not today; maybe not tomorrow, but surely when Jesus arrives and in the kingdom. This man will be exalted by the Lord Himself because he served so many, and yet had humility.