Gentlemen,

Having the heart of a servant does not come naturally to any of us.  In fact, just the opposite is true; we are born with a very selfish heart, as Genesis 6:5 tells us, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  Yet, the word “serve” or its derivatives is found more than 250 times in the Scriptures.  This month I’d like to talk about the importance of learning to serve and teaching our sons (and daughters as well) how to serve.  The reasons to serve, as I see them, are as follows:  1) we are commanded in Scripture to do so, 2) it breaks a heart of selfishness, and 3) there is a tremendous joy that comes after serving others.  Let us take these one at a time.

First, why did God command us to serve and what does service look like when we do it?  One dictionary defines service as, “1a: to be a servant to, b: to give the service and respect due to (a superior), c: to comply with the commands or demands of, d: to give military or naval service to, e: to perform the duties of (an office or post).”  In short then service is the doing of something for someone that is in line with their needs, wants, or desires.  Jesus says it this way in Mark 9:35, “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, if any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”  This shows us that a person who serves others is elevated to the first position; so a leader is a servant, and a servant is expected to lead.  Service is then an important part of every leader and is necessary in every organization.  So, we serve to meet needs and learn leadership.

Next, why should we even serve at all and how does it impact our heart condition?  I believe a heart that is focused on itself is not able to willingly serve others.  There is always that question of, “What is in this for me?”  The family structure is created by God to be a microcosm of the Body of Christ.  In a family each member learns how to properly relate to others in a protected nurturing environment.  I know that in the Farr household, everything runs more smoothly when each of us looks out for another and seeks to meet needs, either expressed or implied.  Why is this?  Each of us has learned that our own needs will only be met when we reach out to others and meet their needs.  Funny how that works, but it is true in God’s economy.  Each of us Farrs has had to allow our selfish hearts to be broken and replaced with service-oriented hearts.  We’ve done this by pointing out to each other, in a loving way, the times when we have served one another well, and when we have not done it so well.  Often times, Sue of I would reward, either with praise or in a tangible way, our small children for their service to another family member.  God says it this way in Ezekiel 11:19-20, “…and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”  I do not want to give the impression that this is a once for all transaction, but rather a daily dying to self!

Lastly, there is a tremendous joy associated with serving others.  When I was at a difficult point in my Christian growth and God was working on me to learn how to have a heart of service, a mentor shared with me the following, which I pass on to you.  “Serve in such a way that others get the credit, God gets the glory, and you get the joy.”  I had to think about this for a long time, but realized it to be true.  I have been on a hurricane deployment with ALERT Cadet where we were sawing downed trees into smaller pieces and moving them out.  The elderly couples we served were always grateful, but the real joy came when we sang a favorite hymn for them.  I’m not sure who was crying more after the hymn, the couple, or the hot, sweaty guys who had been serving!  The local officials received the credit, God received the glory, and I received the joy.  In man’s economy, it is a “me first” mentality that Satan counterfeits to supposedly bring joy and fulfillment.  However, when I really serve another person, the Spirit of God brings a joy to my heart which I do not easily forget.

Dads, let me encourage you to set the pace in your family.  If you need help to get started, look to a service camp opportunity with ALERT Cadet.  This year, in 2009, we have had three “service-focused” camps, all providentially located in the northeastern part of the United States.  The fathers and sons who have attended these camps have done everything from assist a widow with her home after a storm to recovering a Cape Cod home to be used as an orphanage.  It is possible and rewarding to mix service, camping, and father-son time.  The last United States camp on the national ALERT Cadet calendar is in Alabama, from September 23-27.  You can find more about this camp on the ALERT Cadet website at http://www.alertcadet.org/events/camps/.  In Southeast Asia we have two remaining camps, each with a service focus, in Indonesia and Malaysia both taking place during November.

The ALERT Cadet handbooks are all written with developing a heart of service in mind.  In every handbook you will find the requirement to complete a service project in the home, in your church, and in your community.  Dads, this handbook requirement is also your cue to win your sons’ heart and do it while serving others.  Whenever possible you will want to serve with others; serving alongside other likeminded men gives flesh and blood examples to our sons of men who are choosing to set aside their self-interest and put others first.

Dads, lets work on our “serve” and do it together with our sons for the glory of God!

In Christ,

Roger D. Farr
ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer