Comparison seems to be something we do naturally.

We compare appearances, jobs, family, social lives, and even our acts of service. You may see a young person at church who frequently participates in overseas missions and think that they are the epitome of service. Comparison soon sets in and it is easy to begin devaluing your own service.

In Matthew 10, Jesus addresses this topic of service and our tendency to compare. He acknowledges that there are different ways to serve others and further His kingdom.

While we tend to think that the big, public acts are somehow better than the unnoticed ones, Jesus thinks otherwise. No one may notice you inviting a new family in town over for dinner, or giving a meal to the man on the corner with a sign, or stopping to help a person change their flat tire, but Jesus notices.

You don’t have to travel the world to serve; you can find opportunities right in your own community. Through this, we fulfill the great law spoken of in Matthew 22:37-39, that tells us to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Whether loving your neighbor is as big as crossing the ocean or as small as offering someone a cup of water on a hot day, your service always pleases God.