I read an article in the Birmingham Weekly a few weeks ago that really struck me, and I just found the page I’d clipped as I was wading through the deep piles of stuff on my desk. While the article is about other things, one paragraph near the end is worth noting for the on-the-money comments about real service in our culture.

“That’s where we’ve relegated service in our culture. We’ve made it something for the young to do instead of getting drunk … on a beach in Mexico,” writes the author. “But if you’ve reached that threshold tax bracket, don’t life a finger unless it’s tax deductible.”

What are we thinking? While I’m certainly for good works during spring break, I also certainly agree that service isn’t about what you get (tax breaks), but what you give! Philippians 2:3-4 indicates that the gain of others is to be above our own! Matthew 6:3 shows that we shouldn’t even think about what possible benefits will come to us because of our service. It is our duty as bond servants to Christ (II Corinthians 4:5) to serve others in this world (Galatians 6:10).