Reason #41 - It Calls People To Put The Lessons Of The Classroom Into Action In Their Day-To-Day Lives
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you? And he will answer, “I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’” (Matthew 25:44 & 45)
Arnold Billie is a rural mail carrier in southern New Jersey. For the last quarter century, his daily route has taken him sixty-three miles through two counties and five municipalities. Mr. Billie not only delivers mail, he brings personal service. Anything you can get at the post office you can get from Mr. Billie - stamps, money orders, and pickup service. All the customer has to do is leave the flag up on their mailbox. One elderly woman has trouble starting her lawn mower, so when she wants to use it, she leaves it by her mailbox and Mr. Billie starts it for her when he arrives. Who says personal service is no more?
Sadly, the care and concern that people like Arnold Billie show is the exception instead of the rule in today’s world. Today, everyone seems to be in such a hurry - there’s no time to stop and do anything for anyone but themselves. Is that the way we are supposed to live? Thinking only of ourselves? No! The Bible says that we are to love, be concerned and serve others. In fact, Jesus showed us an example of this, in John chapter 13, when he washed his disciples’ feet.
In Sunday school we learn what the Bible says about serving both God and other people, but Sunday school people also take service to the next level by actually getting out of the classroom and going out into the community to help and serve others through community service organizations, church-sponsored work teams and as individuals.
Questions To Think About: What have you done lately to be of service to God and other people? What have you done within or through your church? What have you done on your own?
Prayer Suggestions: Pray for the continued growth and effectiveness of your local church and Sunday school.
A Call To Action: Talk to some of your friends or your Sunday school class about starting a work team that could go out into the community to do simple fix-up work for shut-ins, the elderly and others.
