The Power of Service: A Lesson in Selflessness

At one family Christmas party, my mom introduced a fun game for all the grandkids. In the center of the room was a pile of wrapped presents—candy bars, lollipops, or other Christmas treats. The rules were simple: roll a dice, and if you got doubles or a seven, you could pick a prize from the center. As the game unfolded, my son Lucas grabbed a bag of Almond Joys. Knowing he doesn’t like Almond Joys, my wife later asked him, “Lucas, what made you grab the Almond Joys?” His response was heartfelt: “I wanted to make sure I grabbed them because they are Grandma Jensen’s and Grandma Bird’s favorite treat, and I want to give it to them.”

This simple act illustrates the essence of service: fully giving of yourself with the expectation of nothing in return.

Prioritizing Service in Life

For me, service is deeply rooted in my faith. My belief that God is my number one priority allows me to find focus, time, and energy to attend to other priorities. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” When you put God first, everything else seems to align, creating room in your day for meaningful pursuits.

Even if you aren’t religious, putting service first can transform your life. Service exemplifies self-denial—setting aside personal desires to help others. By giving of yourself, you cultivate self-mastery and open the door to personal growth.

Service as a Path to Greatness

Christ is the ultimate example of selfless service. He spent His life ministering to others—washing the disciples’ feet, comforting the broken-hearted, and uplifting the downtrodden. His greatness was defined by what He did, not just who He was.

Similarly, the prophet Benjamin once said to his people, “I had spent my days in your service. I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Leadership expert Jon Gordon echoed this sentiment, teaching, “Most leaders think that when their power grows more people should serve them. But true leaders know that as their power grows the more people they have to serve. … You don’t have to be great to serve; you do have to serve to be great.”

Self-Reliance Fuels Service

Marion G. Romney captured the relationship between self-reliance and service perfectly:

“Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.”

By practicing self-mastery, self-discipline, and self-denial, you increase your capacity to serve. As you strengthen yourself, you can give more to others.

Start Serving Today

I invite you to look for opportunities to serve today. Find ways to help others—whether it’s a spouse, child, neighbor, or stranger. Websites like JustServe.org can connect you with volunteer opportunities in your area.

Service fosters deeper relationships and personal growth. The more you give of yourself, the more you grow within yourself.