Sunday Lesson, Dec 4th

This week we discussed lesson #23 out of our manual. President Hunter knew that the service itself was important, not whether he received recognition. He understood that every act of service is important in God’s eye, no matter how unheralded or inconspicuous.  

We started by reading Alma 48:17. Captain Moroni is given a great compliment. He was famous, powerful, and a remarkable man. He received much praise for his good deeds. Then in verse 19 we learn that even though Helaman and his brethren we not in the spotlight as much as Moroni, they were "no less serviceable". In other words Helaman was just as helpful and useful as Moroni.
 

Not all of us are going to be like Moroni, catching the acclaim of our colleagues all day every day. Most of us will be quiet, relatively unknown folks who come and go and do our work without fanfare. To those of you who may find that {thought} lonely or frightening or just unspectacular, I say, you are “no less serviceable” than the most spectacular of your associates. You, too, are part of God’s army.

President Hunter also warns us that there can be a spiritual danger to those who misunderstand the singularity of always being in the spotlight. They may come to covet the notoriety and forget the significance of the service being done. It is nice to be recognized and to be told that we are doing good, but we need to be careful.

A good gauge on the reason for our service is to ask ourselves, Why do I serve? The poem below can help us learn and know why we should serve no matter how seemingly small it may be.

 “Father, where shall I work today?”

And my love flowed warm and free.

Then He pointed out a tiny spot

And said, “Tend that for me.”

I answered quickly, “Oh no; not that!

Why, no one would ever see,

No matter how well my work was done;

Not that little place for me.”

And the word He spoke, it was not stern;

He answered me tenderly:

“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine.

Art thou working for them or for me?

Nazareth was a little place,

And so was Galilee.”

When we understand why, we won’t be concerned about where we serve.

We can feel joy in our service when we remember this scripture; Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Here is an idea to help as we try to find those who need us in some way. Think of a railroad crossing... STOP – LOOK – LISTEN    

-         Stop as we rush through life.

-         Look for all the friendly, thoughtful, courteous things we can do and all the little human needs we can fill.

-         Listen to others and learn of their hopes and problems so that we will be able to contribute in little ways to their success and happiness.

 Remember… Most of the best people who ever lived weren’t very famous, either. 

Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly.

Jesus teaches us this in Matthew Chapter 6 during His Sermon on the Mount:

That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

When we serve quietly we are following in our Saviors footsteps, we are serving Him, our Father sees what we do and blesses us abundantly. How wonderful is that?! 

* Refer back to #LIGHTTHEWORLD video as well as In 25 Ways. Over 25 Days.