Going the Extra Mile: Embracing Service and Diligence in Christ

Genesis 24:18-19
“Drink my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”

Abraham has sent his oldest servant on an all-important mission. 

Abraham puts his servant under oath to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The servant’s task was to avoid choosing a woman from the Canaanites but rather seek a wife from Abraham’s relatives in his homeland. Also, on no grounds was he to take Isaac back to the relatives either. On the other hand, if the woman was unwilling to come back with him, the servant would be released from the oath.

The servant prayerfully rises to the task. He asks the Lord to grant him specific signs to help him identify the right woman. His criteria was that when he meets the right woman and asks for a drink of water, the woman would willingly give water, not just to him but also to his camels. That’s quite a tall order!

The Bible says, that when the servant met Rebekah at the well, she willingly drew water not just for the servant but for all of his ten camels too. A typical camel can consume 20 gallons (75 liters) of water at one time. That’s a lot of water and hard work for one young woman. Rebekah’s willingness to draw water not just for the servant but for his camels too, reflect two powerful and needed attributes. A heart of service and willingness to work hard.

Christ calls followers to humbly serve and work hard.

To serve needs humility. Christ set us the ultimate example of service, when He chose to come down to earth be as one of us, His created, that He might redeem us (Philippians 2:5-11). In Mark 10:43-44, our Servant King reminds us that our path to greatness is humbly serving others. Contrary to the standards of the world, if we want to be great in God’s kingdom, we are to serve, to be servants of all.

We also have a calling to work hard and avoid laziness. The Bible reminds us that laziness ends in slavery (Proverbs 12:24). There is no room for laziness in the life of a Christian. In Christ, God has created us as His workmanship to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10). Paul set an example for the church by working hard (Acts 20:34-35, 2 Thessalonians 3:8). So also, in whatever we do, we are called to work as unto to the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Is there someone the Lord has been calling you to serve and you have been reluctant? Is there some work you have been unwilling to do because it is just too much effort? Led by Christ, may we not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). As we follow His guidance, let us continue to work diligently, willingly serving those whom the Lord places in our lives.

Give me an increasingly willing heart to serve, Lord, and hands that work hard, as unto you.