Serve yourself by serving others

Coming back from Philadelphia on a plane last eve I sat beside a lady who said she was a minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA. She bemoaned the fact that her denomination, some years ago, made the decision to turn inward and "take care of themselves" and ceased to reach out and evangelize or share in compassionate ministry.

I said, "It may be that the way to take care of yourself best is to take care of others...you have to use your gospel muscle - or atrophy." She heartily agreed. And many churches within my own denomination understand this well, because their membership freefall looks a lot like the PCUSA losses over decades.

You grow by serving; you gain muscle by exercising. It is as true personally as it is congregationally.