Finishing Strong – Finding New Opportunities to Serve as We Age

New opportunities for finishing strong appear as we age. Steph suggests a number of different ways we can meet the needs of others.

Serving in Various Ways

Matthew records the following,

“But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV).

Last time, we discussed the importance and awesomeness of prayer. It is a ministry in and of itself, a crucial foundation for all other ministries. Regularly bringing the needs of others before the Lord is truly an act of service.

Some are called to become prayer warriors, spending hours in their literal or proverbial prayer closet for hours each week. And while all believers are called to pray, there are many other ways to serve others as well.

We often underestimate the impact our acts of service have on the lives of others. Plus, we may question what we have to offer. These feelings may very well increase as we grow older and are no longer able to do what we once did.

Meeting Practical Needs

When someone losses a loved one, has a surgery, or has a baby, our church, like countless others, arranges for meals for the family. The online service we use has the option of purchasing a gift card for a specific restaurant or food delivery service for those who aren’t able, for whatever reason, to prepare and deliver a meal. As the recipient of this ministry after cataract surgery, I can’t say how much it meant to me.

Meeting practical needs is a ministry highly valued by the Lord. In fact, as we meet others’ day-to-day needs, the Bible tells us we are offering the same service to the Lord Jesus Himself. (See Matthew 25:31-45.)

Meeting Needs

We may no longer be able to meet the needs of a large number of people, but each individual is valuable to the Lord. It makes me think of the story of the little boy found tossing starfish after starfish back into the ocean after several washed up on shore. Although he couldn’t help all the starfish, he could make a difference to each one he threw back into the water. We, too, can meet needs one at a time.

In this day of texts and emails, what a difference it could make to pick up the phone and call someone who is lonely! And how often do we receive a note of encouragement via “snail mail” anymore? Receiving an I’m Think of You card in the mail may be just what someone needs to brighten their day.

Hobbies Can be Acts of Service

Even our hobbies can be acts of service. Do you make quilts, knit, or crochet? There are several organizations that can make use of blankets, scarves, hats, etc., passing them along to individuals who are desperately in need.

And you never know what a difference it might in a younger person’s life if you take them under your wing.

Whether we’re able to take on an involved ministry that requires a great deal of time and energy (and some of us are) or are “only” able to serve others one at a time, we may not know this side of heaven what an impact we have.

And that’s a legacy I want to leave behind. How about you?

Recommended Reading: Graceful Influence by Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Please note: I have not yet read this book but thought it lined up well with this topic.

How have you served God differently as you age? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.