“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 NIV

In 1979 Bob Dylan released an album with the award winning song, “Gotta Serve Somebody.” John Lennon said the song was “stupid” and wrote a song titled, “Serve Yourself.” However, Bob Dylan had it right. The message of the song was simply that we all have to serve others, in some way, if we’re going to make sense of our lives. It’s a concept that we find in the Bible and in the economy of God’s creation. Unless we are intentionally advancing the benefit of another we are likely to struggle with life’s meaning and our personal well-being.

We are most productive when our work is aiming toward the benefit of others. We are most at peace with ourselves when our minds find joy in another’s accomplishment. And we are most fulfilled when we see another lifted in spirit. By serving others, not just ourselves, we are living a life with purpose and true satisfaction.