Imagine driving through the desert in August. You’re exhausted, your car is overheating, and then you see it — a large tree with thick branches and full foliage. You pull over and park in its shade. What a relief. That tree didn’t ask for anything in return. It just provided shade. That’s a picture of what God wants us to be as followers of Christ — trees that spread out our branches and cast shade on the people around us through faithful service.
This is the final message in our “Planted” series, where we’ve been using the analogy of a tree from Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17 to think about what it means to be spiritually healthy and thriving. We’ve talked about roots (truth), water (hope in Christ), and the trunk (fellowship). Now we arrive at the branches and leaves — our service to others.
Why We Serve: Reason #1 — Because That’s Who We Are
The first reason we serve is the most fundamental: serving is not just what we do — it’s who we are. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are servants.
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:1–2
When Paul wrote this, he wanted the Corinthians to think of him first and foremost as a servant. Not as a great orator, not as a former religious leader — as a servant. And if we’re going to imitate Paul (as he commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:1), this is how we need to see ourselves too.
“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.”
— Galatians 5:13
We’ve been set free from sin and death. We have an eternal hope. But now that we’re free, what do we do? We serve. We give ourselves to another’s will. We say, “I’m not the captain of this boat — I’m just the rower. I row when the Master tells me to row.” A tree doesn’t decide whether to produce leaves and branches. That’s what it is. And as servants of Christ, serving is what we are.
Why We Serve: Reason #2 — To Spread God’s Grace and Mercy
The second reason we serve is practical: we serve to be a blessing. Like a tree that spreads out its branches to provide shade, we cast the shade of God’s grace and mercy onto the people in our lives.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
— Romans 12:10–12
When the Thessalonian believers put their faith in Jesus, what was the first thing they did? They turned from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). They had a new identity, a new hope, and they served. The same is true for us. Because we’ve been saved by grace, we now spread grace to others — both through truth (sharing the Word) and through action (meeting needs, loving one another).
Ask yourself: Who in your life is benefitting from being near you? Are you casting shade on anyone, or are your branches and leaves only close to your own trunk, up high, serving yourself?
Why We Serve: Reason #3 — Our Service Will Be Judged
There’s a coming day that every single person in this room will experience. Our service is going to be judged by Christ Himself.
“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.”
— Colossians 3:23–24
This is the encouraging part — we serve the Lord Christ, and He will honor us. But there’s also a sobering side. Romans 11 describes how God temporarily broke off His relationship with Israel because they failed to serve Him. They had a special covenant, and they didn’t live up to it. God grafted in the Gentiles so that we could serve — so that we could be the blessing to the nations that Israel was meant to be.
Consider the Parable of the Faithful Stewards in Matthew 25. A master gave his servants resources before going on a journey. The faithful servants multiplied what they were given and were welcomed into their master’s joy. But the one who buried his talent out of fear was judged.
There are consequences for our service — or lack of it. Not loss of salvation (Christ has already paid for our sins), but the potential loss of reward. God will either commend or correct us based on what we did with the opportunities He gave us.
A Final Question
Jesus is coming back. We don’t know when. When He returns, will He say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
- Who — or what — is truly your master? What are you serving?
- Where are you casting shade in your life? Who benefits from being near you?
- Do you look forward to Christ’s return and the opportunity to hear His “well done”?
God has planted us by the streams of water. He has given us truth, hope, and fellowship. Now He wants us to spread out our branches — to be servants who cast the shade of His grace onto everyone He puts in our path.
Scripture References
- Psalm 1 — The Blessed Man and the Tree
- Jeremiah 17:5–8 — The Curse and the Blessing
- 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 — Servants of Christ and Stewards
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 — Imitate Paul as He Imitates Christ
- Galatians 5:13 — Through Love Serve One Another
- Romans 12:10 — Outdo One Another in Showing Honor
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9 — Turning from Idols to Serve the Living God
- Romans 11 — The Grafted Branches
- Colossians 3:23–24 — Work Heartily as for the Lord
- Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Faithful Stewards