Priceless
According to The Independent Sector’s Value of Volunteer Time Report, released in April 2023, the estimated national value of each volunteer hour Is: $31.80. The report goes on to state: “Volunteers in the United States hold up the foundation of civil society. They help their neighbors, serve their communities, and provide their expertise. No matter what kind of volunteer work they do, they are contributing in invaluable ways.”[i]
The Bible says that we are rewarded for aligning ourselves with Christ; loving and doing good to our enemies; giving to those in need (in secret); praying (in private); fasting (without drawing attention to ourselves); welcoming others; offering assistance and comfort; ministering to children; obeying Christ; lending without expectation of return; mirroring God’s kindness to the undeserving; for planting and watering; for doing good; for working and serving (Matthew 5:12, 46; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; 10:41-42; Matthew 16:27; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Corinthians 3:8-14; Ephesians 6:7-:8; Colossians 3:23-24).
Christ makes clear there are rewards both on earth and in heaven—for our deeds done in faithfulness to Him. Love in action. Spurred on by God’s gracious and unfailing love for us. We are called God’s “co-workers” in His service (1 Corinthians 3:9). We are exhorted to serve or work with all our hearts—"wholeheartedly”--as if our service is directly to the Lord Himself, not just to those we are serving (Revelation 22:12; Ephesians 6:7-:8; Colossians 3:23-24).
But, we do not serve others in the name of Jesus because we are rewarded—here and in eternity. We serve out of love. Ultimately, LOVE is the motivation—for following and obeying Jesus, for serving others, for caring for our neighbors, for engaging with the greater world:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” ”Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” “For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you…This is my command: Love each other.” 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.” But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8 Love Fulfills the Law; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7; Luke 11:42; John 15:12, 17; Romans 13:9; Joshua 22:5; Galatians 5:13 Life by the Spirit.)
You are priceless. Your service in Jesus’ name is priceless. Your contribution to the health and well-being of the church—the Body of Christ—is priceless. In that spirit, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Equipping Ministries Director at her church since 1999.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.
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[i] https://independentsector.org/resource/value-of-volunteer-time/