making sense of serving

"we serve and we cannot control the results, but we keep serving."

This is a line from the Hallmark movie "Beyond the Blackboard." This movie tells the story of a young woman who found great service in teaching homeless kids who were left out of the mainstream education system. While this young lady did yeomen's duty serving these kids who had been forgotten by society, she had to deal with the unpredictable events around the transient and chaotic aspect of homeless families. In the beginning she would be significantly affected when all her efforts seemed to fail because the parents of the kids made bad choices negating her service. While the movie shows her new found freedom in serving in spite of the outcome, it did not explain how or why this can happen.

The question of divorcing our expectations of results from our efforts to serve others permeates all of our being. You may "test yourself" in your motives for service. To what degree are you burdened with the expectation of results of your serving? In our nature (carnal mind) we cannot escape expectations of those we serve and outcomes we desire. We cannot give of ourselves without some expectation of return. Yet real serving must.

The only way we can serve with no expectation of return on our "selfless efforts" is if our purpose, value and identity is not found in our service. This only occurs when we fully embrace Grace (Kingdom mind). When we know for sure that our purpose, value and identity has been established by the greatest service of all eternity, the Cross, we can give with no expectation  of return. Further, we can receive God's blessings with no obligation because we know His gift is unconditional. That is, only until we have received the greatest gifts of all with "no strings attached" can we give our gifts to others with "no strings attached."

Then and only then can we serve and serve and serve ..... without burnout, disappointment, and the stress of outcomes.

Now that my friend is the freedom that comes from truth and grace. Something worth pondering ...