Does that describe your attitude?  Do you serve with gladness?  If not, could it be that you’ve forgotten the One Whom you are called to serve?  The Psalmist reminds us, “Serve the LORD…”  The quickest way to restore your joy in serving others is to consider that the One you’re really serving is God.  We best serve God by serving others.  

Another way to restore our joy in serving is when we love with no strings attached!  I’m more apt to serve with gladness when I’m serving the Lord and loving others as Christ loves me – unconditionally! Some translations change the word “serve” in Psalm 100:2 to “worship”.  That tells me that my service is an act of worship!  It’s a way to demonstrate my love for God!  When I love with no strings attached, I can serve with gladness because my service is an act of worship!

Jesus said that those who serve would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God!

Matthew 20:25-28   “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’”

Serving with gladness runs contrary to our nature and our culture.  We want to be served.  Yet, as counter intuitive as it seems, real joy comes in serving, not being served.  We lose our joy when we interpret the word “service” as “serve-us!”

Jesus’ own life and ministry are a living example to us.

Matthew 20:28  “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We are most like Jesus when we are serving, and when we recognize that He is the one we are serving, we can serve with gladness!