14, 15. (a) While caring for the physical and material needs of others is a vital aspect of Christian service, what other aspect is even more vital? (b) How does the account at Acts 6:1-4 illustrate this?

¹⁴ From what we have considered it is clear that to care for the physical and material needs of others, particularly our Christian brothers, is a vital part of Christian serving. None of us should ever view it as “beneath” us to serve humbly in these ways, or underestimate the importance in God’s eyes of such serving. And yet, there is an even more vital aspect of service that genuine Christians will be very concerned to render. What is that? It is the serving of the direct spiritual needs of others.

Di·a·ko·neʹo, on the other hand, lays emphasis on the very personal nature of the service that is rendered to another. As one authority says, in this verb there “is a stronger approximation to the concept of a service of love.”​—Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. II, page 81.

³ What, then, does Christian service embrace? Is it limited to such activities as preaching God’s Word, making disciples of others or serving the strictly spiritual needs of those in the congregation? What does the word under consideration (di·a·ko·neʹo) show?

WAITING ON AND CARING FOR OTHERS

4. How does the Bible aptly illustrate the basic sense of the Greek word for “serve” that we are considering?

⁴ The Bible’s use of this word aptly illustrates the basic sense of personal service (expressed not only by the Greek verb but also by the related nouns di·aʹkonos [servant, minister] and di·a·ko·niʹa [service, ministry]).a One early use of the word refers to ‘waiting on tables.’ Luke uses it that way in quoting Jesus’ words about a slave’s ‘preparing his master’s supper and then waiting on [di·a·ko·neʹo] him while he had his meal.’ (Luke 17:7-10, NE) At Luke 12:35-38 (NE) Jesus gave his disciples an illustration in which the master, representing Jesus himself, traded roles with his slaves who had faithfully awaited his arrival from his wedding feast. Jesus said of the master in the illustration: “He will fasten his belt, seat them at table, and come and wait on [di·a·ko·neʹo; serve, Kingdom Interlinear Translation; minister to, New World Translation] them.”b

5, 6. (a) In what way did certain Christian women engage in service of this kind? (b) What does all of this show as to the scope of the Bible term being considered?

⁵ Not only ‘waiting on tables,’ however, but all services of a similar personal nature came to be embraced by the term. The Bible tells of certain Christian women who “provided for,” “waited on” or ‘ministered to’ the needs of Jesus and his apostles “from their belongings,” both in Galilee and in Jerusalem. (Luke 8:1-3; Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:41; NE, NW) They may have done shopping and cooking, the mending and washing of clothes, or performed other services of a similar nature, even using their own funds and possessions to supply needed materials.

⁶ We see, then, that this term is not restricted to purely “religious” activity but embraces a wide scope of service.

SERVING NEEDY BROTHERS

7. Why can we be sure that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ give real importance to this kind of service, not underestimating it?

⁷ We should never doubt that Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ give real importance to this kind of service. Jesus personally experienced human needs such as hunger and thirst. He undoubtedly appreciated it greatly when, after forty days of fasting, “angels appeared and waited on [di·a·ko·neʹo] him.” (Matt. 4:11, NE) In a parable given toward the close of his earthly service, Jesus described his judgment upon two classes of persons, one class likened to “sheep,” the other to “goats.” The “sheep,” who were approved and blessed, came to the aid of Christ’s brothers when they saw them in need. But the “goats,” who were condemned, saw these in hunger and thirst, in need of hospitality or lodging, lacking clothing or ill or in prison and ‘did not come to their help [di·a·ko·neʹo; did not “serve” or “minister” to them, Int; NW].’​—Matt. 25:31-46, Jerusalem Bible.

8, 9. (a) How did Christians in the first century show that they appreciated clearly the importance of serving the physical needs of their brothers? (b) How did the apostle Paul show his concern that this “service” be performed in a proper way?

⁸ True disciples of Jesus during the first century C.E. proved themselves “sheeplike” in attitude and action. When Christians in Macedonia and Achaia heard that their brothers in Judea were in need, they gathered relief supplies and sent these to them, performing a “relief ministration [di·a·ko·niʹa].” (Acts 11:29; 12:25, NW) For they recognized that the Judean brothers had rendered them precious spiritual service and that they had a corresponding ‘debt’ that made it fitting for them to “do them a service in material ways” (An American Translation); to “minister publicly to these with things for the fleshly body” (NW). (Rom. 15:25-27) This was especially commendable on the part of the Macedonian congregations. Though themselves in a state of poverty, they proved to be “lavishly open-handed.” As Paul says: “Going to the limit of their resources, as I can testify, and even beyond that limit, they begged us most insistently, and on their own initiative, to be allowed to share in this generous service [di·a·ko·niʹa; ministry, NW] to their fellow-Christians.” (2 Cor. 8:2-4, NE) What a powerful example of unselfish service for us today!

⁹ The apostle Paul was very concerned that this relief measure should be conducted in a fine manner, so that there would be no “criticism of our handling [di·a·ko·neʹo; administering, JB] of this generous gift,” whether from those on the giving end or those on the receiving end of the project. For that reason, others, “delegates of our congregations,” were ‘duly appointed to travel’ with Paul and Titus (whom Paul called “my partner and my associate”).​—2 Cor. 8:19-23, NE.

10. What fine results come from this unselfish serving of others’ needs, as shown by 2 Corinthians 9:1, 11-14?

¹⁰ Paul himself later experienced refreshing help from men like Onesiphorus and Onesimus as they ‘served’ and ‘looked after’ (di·a·ko·neʹo) him in times of trial. (2 Tim. 1:16-18; Philem. 10-13, NE) When writing to the Corinthians, he showed them what fine results all such kind, unselfish serving brings to God’s praise and the advancement of the good news. Of the “provision of aid” (di·a·ko·niʹa; “service,” Int; “ministry,” NW) for the Judean brothers, he said: “Through our action such generosity will issue in thanksgiving to God, for as a piece of willing service this is not only a contribution towards the needs of God’s people; more than that, it overflows in a flood of thanksgiving to God. For through the proof which this affords, many will give honour to God when they see how humbly you obey him and how faithfully you confess the gospel of Christ; and will thank him for your liberal contribution to their need and to the general good. And as they join in prayer on your behalf, their hearts will go out to you because of the richness of the grace which God has imparted to you.”​—2 Cor. 9:1, 11-14, NE.

11. (a) In what ways does our thoughtful care for the physical needs of others contribute to the expansion of pure worship? (b) What is one of the ways that we can show ‘love of God’s name,’ according to Hebrews 6:10?

¹¹ Yes, the good news of God’s kingdom becomes meaningful to people when they see the effect it has on the personalities of those embracing it, the generosity and love of neighbor that it generates. Such thoughtful service and giving to others not only causes these to feel gratitude toward the human givers but also “overflows in a flood of thanksgiving to God.” It recommends true Christianity as the finest way of life, as true worship of a kind and loving God. (Compare James 1:26, 27; 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18.) No wonder, then, that Paul could write to Hebrew Christians who had come to the aid of their brothers and assure them that “God would not be so unjust as to forget all that you did for love of his name, when you rendered service [di·a·ko·neʹo; ministered, NW] to his people, as you still do.”​—Heb. 6:10, NE; compare Heb 10:32-34; 1 Corinthians 16:15, 16.