Conditions of Spiritual Service
Conditions of Spiritual Service
In the previous issue, we spoke about service as one of the spiritual means. Today, we continue the topic by discussing:
The Conditions of Spiritual Service
Not every service is a spiritual means. Some have perished while being involved in service, others have fallen or grown weary.
An example of this is the elder son who did not rejoice at the return of his prodigal brother and refused to enter the house. When his father came out and pleaded with him, he said: “Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends…” (Luke 15:29).
He had been in service for many years, yet his will was not aligned with the father’s will, and his heart was not pure toward his brother.
Another example is found among some of the angels of the seven churches. Although they were shepherds of churches, the Lord said to one of them: “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1).
And to another:
“Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
And to a third: “You have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent…” (Revelation 2:4–5).
The Lord mentioned reasons that made all these, while at the peak of service, in need of repentance.
Others, among the helpers of the Apostle Paul, perished completely. He said of them: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction… who set their mind on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18–19).
Among these was Demas, whom the apostle once mentioned before Saint Luke (Philemon 24). Later he said of him: “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
All these were lost; others fell and later repented.
Service itself was not the cause of their loss, but rather they neglected their spiritual life while serving. Thus some fell, and others perished.
Therefore, service can indeed be a spiritual means, but one may also fall or perish in it if he does not walk in a spiritual manner. So what are the conditions of spiritual service?
1. Love Is the First Condition of Spiritual Service
Love God, love the Kingdom, and love people.
Love gives birth to love. But if you serve with inner distress, resentment, or grumbling, and if you give out of compulsion and murmuring, do you think you will gain spiritual benefit?
Sometimes people begin serving without a sound spiritual goal. But when they see the needs of those they serve, and notice their pain and hardships, compassion and mercy are stirred in their hearts, and they begin to serve with love. In this case, love becomes the result of service rather than its cause, and gradually becomes intertwined with it, teaching them how to serve with heartfelt compassion.
Some serve the poor, then discover that those in need may resort to lying or deceit, or may be exhausting in their insistence, or loud and disruptive. They become irritated, may drive them away, and treat them harshly. But a loving heart bears all these burdens, because “love bears all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
If, while serving, you find your nerves becoming strained, your temper sharpening—whether toward a poor person who lies, a student who is stubborn, or those who disrupt order in meetings—then know that there is something within you that needs healing, and that service has revealed a flaw in you so that you may correct it.
Do not say that the fault lies in the service, but in yourself.
Say to yourself: I must widen my heart, lengthen my patience, endure others regardless of their mistakes, and set an example for them through my endurance.
Or say: Service has revealed to me that these poor people do not only need material support, but also spiritual work that leads them to repentance, to knowing God, and to upright conduct. Thus you begin true spiritual work with them, so they benefit both materially and spiritually.
The same applies to troublesome students and those who disrupt meetings.
2. Endurance Is an Essential Condition of Spiritual Service
Every service has its burdens, and every servant, as the apostle said, “will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
Our apostolic fathers labored greatly in their service. Saint Paul said about his ministry and that of his fellow servants: “In all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses… by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report” (2 Corinthians 6:4–8).
He also said: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
He details further hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:23–29, concluding with: “in labors more abundant.” Yet he endured all this and gained crowns through endurance.
Likewise, we remember Saint John the Evangelist and the sufferings he endured during his exile on the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation, saying: “I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation” (Revelation 1:9).
We also remember Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6), the three youths in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), and the Lord’s words to His disciples: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16),
“You will be delivered up to councils… and you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matthew 10:17, 22).
The apostles endured all this with patience.
3. Steadfastness in Service
You may encounter troubles in service, whether from outsiders or even from brethren, as Saint Paul said:
“in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles” (2 Corinthians 11:26).
Do not be distressed, do not grumble, and do not flee from service. Stand firm and continue, and strength from above will come to you.
Remember Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, who stood firm despite exile and persecution due to Arian conspiracies, until it was said: “The whole world is against you, Athanasius.” Through his steadfastness, the true faith was preserved.
Steadfastness grants the servant spiritual strength from the Lord—strength that prevents despair, strengthens hope, and instills confidence that God will surely intervene and set everything right. Thus the servant acquires the virtue of waiting upon the Lord, as the psalmist says: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).
4. Let Your Service Be Spiritual and Deep
Many people’s service is merely activity that consumes all their energy—constant motion and productivity without spirit. Such service does not benefit you spiritually, because God has no share in it. Often, excessive activity hinders spiritual growth.
You may find, for example, a diligent Sunday School servant busy with curricula, preparation notebooks, servants’ meetings, youth meetings, libraries, clubs, and summer activities. Yet when asked about his personal spiritual life, he finds no time for it. His life grows lukewarm, and consequently his service becomes a massive structure of organization without spirit—benefiting neither himself nor others.
Service may turn into purely administrative work. This can also occur in social services, orphanages, elderly care, diaspora ministry, and church councils. In such administrative work, discussions, arguments, noise, rivalry, and factionalism may increase, and the servant’s spirit is lost because the service lacks a spiritual character. God is not a partner in it; prayer and obedience to the commandment are absent.
Therefore, in every service you undertake, distance yourself from routine and formalism. Bring God into it, and let it carry a spiritual character—even administrative work should have a “spirituality of administration,” a concept worthy of separate discussion.
There is a vast difference between the administration of a man of God and that of worldly people.
5. Beware of Spiritual Pitfalls in Service
Avoid commanding and controlling styles. Adopt humility and gracious speech with both young and old. No matter how much authority you have, do not speak down to others, nor allow the spirit of domination to enter your heart.
Remember the Lord’s words: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11), and “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Do not let service strip you of meekness and humility. If you find your voice rising in anger, be cautious and review yourself. If you begin to boast about your achievements, beware lest the demon of vainglory reap all that you have sown. If you look down on others and compare yourself to them, know that pride has entered your heart.
Place before you the apostle’s command: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).
Say to yourself continually: I entered service not to fall into new sins, but to grow spiritually.
6. Beware of the Ego in Service
Do not make service a means to elevate yourself or build your self-worth. You are merely a servant of the Lord, saying with Saint John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30),
and as the psalm says: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1).
Beware of the Lord’s warning to shepherds who feed themselves (Ezekiel 34:8–10). Let your goal be the Kingdom of God and the salvation of souls—not yourself or your honor.
Spiritually fruitful service is the one in which the word “I” disappears. Its derivatives vanish as well. Such a servant forgets his comfort and time, does not seek praise or honor, nor grieve at their absence. He prefers others over himself in service, as the apostle says:
“In honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).
Such a servant is loved by all, without losing humility.
7. Keep Service Free from Politics
Many enter service, then neglect themselves and become preoccupied with managing service. They clash with the church, the priest, the church council, and fellow workers, focusing on others’ mistakes—real or imagined. Judgment turns into slander, and they justify it as “defending the truth.”
In the name of defending the truth, they fall into countless sins, disputes, and divisions, seeking supporters for their accusations. The atmosphere of service becomes troubled, losing its spirituality, love, meekness, and simplicity.
How many have been lost—and caused others to be lost—while being “in service”!
8. Focus on Positive Work, Not Negativity
If you want to benefit spiritually, focus on positive, constructive work. Remember the saying: “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.”
Be a role model for all, and trust that this alone is a powerful message and service. Constructive work endures, harms no one, and invites no criticism. Dwelling on negativity exhausts the mind and spirit, and may lead to destructive behavior and many sins.
Is it not better not to serve at all than to serve in a way that leads you into sin and becomes a stumbling block to others?
The Lord said:“Woe to him through whom offenses come” (Luke 17:1).
