How to Serve Others Like Jesus
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in your own responsibilities?
You wake up thinking about everything you need to accomplish. There are emails to answer, errands to run, deadlines to meet, and family responsibilities waiting for your attention. By the end of the day, you've been busy from morning until night, and there's still more to do tomorrow.
In the middle of all that busyness, it's easy to overlook the people around us.
Maybe your spouse could use some help around the house. Your child has been trying to get your attention. A coworker is struggling with a difficult assignment, or a neighbor could use an encouraging conversation.
We may genuinely care about these people, but caring about someone and intentionally serving them aren't always the same thing.
In Matthew 20, Jesus teaches His disciples an important lesson about what it means to follow Him. When James and John seek positions of honor in His kingdom, Jesus explains that greatness in God's kingdom looks different from greatness in the world.
He tells them:
"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." — Matthew 20:26 (ESV)
Jesus then points to His own example, explaining that He came to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many.
If we want to become more like Jesus, serving others needs to become a regular part of how we live. Here are three biblical principles that can help us put that into practice.
1. Love Others the Way Jesus Loves You
Before we can serve others with the right attitude, we need to understand what motivates us to serve in the first place.
Jesus demonstrated His love through action. He cared for people who were overlooked, showed compassion to those who were hurting, and willingly sacrificed Himself for people who could never repay Him.
His example challenges us to consider how we express love in our own relationships.
It's relatively easy to show kindness to someone who treats us well or appreciates what we do for them. But what about the coworker who constantly frustrates you? The family member who seems difficult to please? Or the person who never acknowledges your efforts?
Loving others the way Jesus loves us means choosing to care for people even when it's inconvenient or when we don't receive anything in return.
That kind of love begins with remembering how much God has already loved us.
As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His love should increasingly shape our words, attitudes, and actions. Our spiritual maturity becomes evident in the way we treat the people around us.
Ask yourself: Is there someone in my life who needs to experience God's love through the way I treat them?
2. Look for Opportunities to Serve Others Every Day
When you hear the word serving, what comes to mind?
Maybe you think about volunteering at church, helping with a community outreach project, or participating in a mission trip. Those are wonderful opportunities to make a difference, but serving others isn't limited to organized activities.
Some of our most meaningful opportunities to serve happen in ordinary moments.
It might mean taking care of something around the house so your spouse doesn't have to. It could mean putting your phone away and giving your child your undivided attention. Maybe it's helping a coworker finish a project, checking on a neighbor, or offering encouragement to someone who's having a difficult week.
In Philippians 2:3–4, Paul encourages believers to consider the interests of others rather than focusing exclusively on their own.
That requires intentionality because our natural tendency is often to prioritize our own comfort, schedules, and preferences.
But following Jesus changes the way we approach our relationships. Instead of waiting for someone to ask for help, we can begin looking for needs we have the opportunity to meet.
Over time, these intentional decisions help make serving a consistent part of our lives.
Here's a practical challenge: Find one person you can serve this week without being asked.
It doesn't need to be something elaborate. Simply pay attention to the people God has placed in your life and consider how you can help carry one of their burdens.
3. Practice Humility as You Serve
Have you ever done something thoughtful for someone and felt disappointed when they didn't notice?
Maybe you worked hard behind the scenes, made a sacrifice to help someone, or went out of your way to make their day easier. You weren't necessarily expecting a reward, but a little appreciation would have been nice.
Most of us can relate to that feeling.
It's natural to want our efforts to be recognized. But when recognition becomes our motivation, serving can quickly become more about ourselves than the people we're trying to help.
That's why humility is such an important part of following Jesus.
In Micah 6:8, Scripture reminds us that God calls His people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
Humility doesn't mean believing you're unimportant or pretending you have nothing to offer. You can be confident in the abilities God has given you while recognizing that those abilities are opportunities to serve Him and others.
Jesus demonstrated this perfectly. Although He possessed all authority, He willingly took the position of a servant.
We follow His example when we help without expecting recognition, celebrate someone else's success, remain patient with difficult people, and choose to put another person's needs ahead of our preferences.
As humility grows in our hearts, serving becomes less about what we receive and more about how we can reflect the character of Jesus.
Ask yourself: Am I willing to serve someone even if nobody notices or thanks me?
Make Serving Others a Way of Life
Think about the people you'll interact with this week.
You'll probably see many of the same faces you see every day: family members, coworkers, neighbors, friends, and perhaps a few people you don't know very well.
Each interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus.
You don't have to wait for a special event or a major need to begin serving. You can start with the relationships and responsibilities already in front of you.
And as you begin looking for opportunities to love others, put their needs first, and walk humbly with God, you may discover that serving becomes a natural expression of your faith.
So who is one person you can serve this week without being asked?
Take a moment to identify that person, consider what would genuinely help them, and make a plan to follow through.
Jesus has already shown us what a life of love and service looks like. Now we have the opportunity to follow His example.
Reflect
When you think about your daily routine, where do you tend to focus more on your own needs than the needs of others?
Who has God placed in your life that you could intentionally serve this week?
How can you practice serving with humility, especially when your efforts go unnoticed?
Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to show me what it means to serve others. Forgive me for the times I've become so focused on my own needs that I've overlooked the people around me. Help me recognize opportunities to care for others and give me a willing heart to respond. Teach me to serve with humility, without expecting recognition or anything in return. May my words and actions reflect Your love to my family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. In Jesus' name, amen.