Getting our finances in order is an important step towards serving others. As we discipline ourselves to live according to a budget, to eliminate unneccessary expenses, and to provide future security, our income is set free for giving to others. If we do not worry about living paycheck to paycheck, we can freely donate our money to God’s work in the world.

Often our lives are stuffed so full that we can hardly find time for prayer, or family meals. Yet this means that when someone in our community suffers a crisis, we have no time to help. Not only do we need to simplify our schedules to make time for God, but we also need to create space in our schedules to be with our family and communities.

Often this area is much neglected by Christians. But God created our bodies and intends to use them as His hands and feet in this world. We do not need to be obssessed with our appearance, striving to look good in spandex workout clothes! But it is important to care for our bodies: hygiene, medical appointments, healthy diets, and regular exercise.

The image for service should be that of Jesus stooping to wash the feet of his apostles. This act was one of a slave to a master and yet was done to demonstrate to us a critical aspect of Christian relationship: that we must serve one another from a position of love, and indeed, that service through love is simple.