In this devotional, we’ll read Inspiring Bible Verses about Serving Others and discover how living a life of service deepens and strengthens our faith.
What does the Bible Says About Serving Others?
God’s Word says Christians are called to serve others with a joyful spirit.
As believers, we understand that helping people is an important part of our faith and represents who we are in Christ. And when it comes to living a fulfilling life, one of the most important things we can do is serve others.
Because not only does performing acts of service help those in need, but it also brings a sense of purpose and joy to our own lives. All why strengthening our faith in God.
Importance of Serving Others
Our willingness to serve others helps us grow as a follower of Jesus Christ by teaching us humility, compassion, and selflessness. It helps us build relationships within our community. And it helps us develop a servant’s heart as we put others before ourselves, just like Jesus did for us.
I learned this lesson by watching my Granny serve her family and friends faithfully. No matter what was going on she always served with a generous and loving heart. By following her example, I’ve discovered a love of service, both to God and those He puts in my life.
Serving is one of the best ways to show God’s love to the people around us, and it’s the perfect way to express our love for God. Because scripture teaches us that what we do for the least of these we are doing for God Himself.
Likewise, Jesus taught us that when we serve others, we’re not just showing them that we care, but that God cares deeply for them and everything they’re going through.
Fortunately, the Bible is filled with verses about serving others. These scriptures provide guidance and inspiration for us as we seek to make a positive impact in the world and spread the love of Jesus to everyone we meet along the path of life.
So, whether you’re looking to volunteer at a local homeless shelter or charity, help a neighbor in need, or simply be kinder and more compassionate in your daily life, these Inspiring Bible verses about serving others will help you on your journey.
Top Bible Verses about Serving Others
Serving others is not just a good thing to do, it’s a commandment from God. He has called us to serve others with humility, selflessness, and love. Because when we serve others, we are serving God.
These Bible Verses remind us to serve with an open and loving heart. And to bless others the way God has blessed us.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Mark 10:45 NIV
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
And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:44-45 NKJV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 ESV
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 ESV
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4 ESV
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 ESV
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38 NIV
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35 ESV
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16 NIV
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
How to Serve Others According to the Bible
Serving others isn’t always easy, but it’s an important part of the Christian life. It isn’t about gaining recognition or praise for us, instead, it’s about showing the love of Christ to those around us.
And serving doesn’t have to be about giving money or material possessions. Sometimes, all someone needs is a shoulder to cry on, or a helping hand.
However, God calls us to serve in the moment, we can be sure He will open a door for us to show His grace to people in need wherever we go.
Here are a few simple ways we can serve others and show God’s love to them.
Pray for others and their needs
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Give generously to those in need
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17 NIV
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Deuteronomy 15:11 NIV
She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
Proverbs 31:20 NLT
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:33-34 NIV
Read More in this Bible Study: Meaningful Bible Verses about Humility
Visit the sick and those in prison
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Matthew 10:42 NLT
Share the gospel with those who don’t know Christ
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
2 Corinthians 9:12-13 NKJV
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
2 Timothy 2:24-25 NKJV
Offer encouragement and support
and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:24 NASB
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7 NIV
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 NIV
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:9 NIV
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10 NKJV
Read More in this Devotional: Powerful Bible Verses about Loving Your Enemies
Bible Verse Art from Master’s Hand Collection
1 John 4:7 Love One Another Art Print
Treasures in Heaven Bible Verse Art Print
Taste and See Bible Verse Art Print
Old Testament Bible Verses about Serving Others
If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you.
Leviticus 25:35 NLT
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24 NIV
if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
Isaiah 32:8 NLT
Read More in this Bible Study: Amazing Bible Verses about Giving
New Testament Bible Verses about Serving Others
For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.
Romans 15:26 NIV
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
1 Peter 5:6 ESV
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
Examples of Serving Others in the Bible
The Bible is filled with examples of people who served others. Their stories serve us as we serve others, So, let’s take a look at some great examples of serving from the Bible.
The Good Samaritan helped a man who had been beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
Luke 10:30-35 NIV
Joseph served as a slave and later as a ruler in Egypt, ultimately saving his family from famine.
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:19-21 NKJV
Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and parted the Red Sea.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go strong>back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Exodus 14:21-22 NKJV
Ruth served her mother-in-law Naomi and ultimately became an ancestor of Jesus.
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Ruth 1:16-18 NIV
Dorcas excelled at serving others through acts of kindness.
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually.
Acts 9:36-38 NASB
Jesus Serving Other Bible Verses
Jesus washed the disciple’s feet to show us how to serve others.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus is the ultimate example of service as he came to earth to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Philippians 2:5-9 NKJV
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, these Inspiring Bible Verses about Giving to Others remind us of the importance of putting others first and living a life of service.
Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just starting to explore the world of service, I pray these verses inspire and encourage you on your journey.
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