Book of Mormon: Day 161: Selflessly Serving -

Today’s Reading: Alma 4:5-20

12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.

13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;

14 Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.

I don’t even know where to begin. This block of scripture itself is powerful enough to stand alone. I have read it many times and have pondered over it. The more I read it, the more I think of the people in my life who are lifting themselves up with pride and those who are ‘abasing themselves.’

Let’s take a step back for a minute. What does abasing mean? Dictionary.com defines it as:

verb (used with object), abased, abasing.
1.to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation;humble; degrade.
2.Archaic. to lower; put or bring down:

He abased his head.

My favorite word in the definition is humble. Now lets reread verse 13….

13. Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were {humbling} themselves…

Those who were abasing, humbling, themselves and serving those in need were “looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy”. The more that I selflessly serve others, the more I look forward to the second coming.

My husband is one of those people whose second nature is service. If he sees a need, he will fill the need. If anyone asks him for help with anything he doesn’t even hesitate. I, however, am more selfish. It is not my second nature. I have to be asked, and even then I’m more inclined to hesitate or make an excuse than to serve. Which is sad. Over the last several months though, I have been working on that. I have been striving to be more Christ-like and serve those around me by paying more attention to the needs that need to be filled. Whether that is a smile or a simple ‘hello’ as I pass someone.

Let us all strive to be more Christ-like in our service so that as the second coming approaches we can look forward to it with our heads held high “being filled with great joy”.