WHEN IT IS GOOD TO SERVE OTHERS

to a charity, volunteer at church, that allows God to take you higher.

When you serve others, a new level of favour is released in your life.

DEAr rEADEr, it is our joy to bring to you the word of God. I want to talk to you about serving your way up. When you take time to serve people, meet someone's need, help a colleague who has relationship issues, donate

In the scriptures (Philippians 2), we read about Jesus and how He humbled Himself and served people to the point that He gave His life on the cross. We read further that God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Paul, who wrote the book of Philippians, does not say that Jesus is exalted and given a name above every name because He is God, but because He served people. On one occasion, He washed His disciple's feet; another time, He fed five thousand people with bread and fish. He reached out to people and met their needs.

While it is easy to think that you can work your way to the top, the truth is you can serve your way up.

Acts 13v6 says, "for David, after he had served his generation … fell asleep…."

Now David was a king. He had people and servants working under him. Yet the bible does not say that he ruled over his people, had power and authority over his people, and then fell asleep, but instead, we read that David served his people.

Here are 3 things we can learn from serving other people.

1) When you help people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. The people in distress, debt, or discontent came to David, and he protected them. Later we read in the scriptures that fighting men who volunteered to serve in the army came to make David king of Israel. As you serve people to achieve their goals, they, in turn, will help you to achieve your goals.

2) When we help someone to win in life, we will all win. Serving others requires putting the needs of people before your aspirations by doing two things, first by listening to people and second by allowing the best idea to win instead of having your way only. After David became king, some of the people he had helped to succeed in life became his ministers, leaders, and captains.

3) Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. David was anointed to become the next king of Israel at age seventeen. One day his father asked him to take some food to his brothers who served in King Saul's army. This seemed like a very menial job for David since he was to become the next king of Israel. Yet he guide, sampling some of the region's best vinos before discovering Renaissance-era art and architecture in the romantic city of Florence. obeyed his father and went ahead. On the battlefield, David heard the challenge from the champion, Goliath, of their enemy army of the Philistines. He was told the rewards of anyone who could defeat Goliath meant no taxes for the family and the king's daughter's hand in marriage. David defeated Goliath, opening the door for him to join the royal family. And like David, when serving other people may look small, yet it could lead you to bigger opportunities. When your time comes, God will cause you to be in the right place and be noticed by others. We do ourselves the most good by serving others. God bless you.

The ideal blend of culture, history and cuisine, this tour features return international flights, 10 nights 4-star accommodation and 14 meals including daily breakfast will stay with you long after your Italian sojourn comes to an end.

Ps Joseph Dass