Simple Service Can Be Meaningful

Don’t hesitate because you wonder if your offering is too small.

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soup being ladled into a bowl

Photograph by Bradley Slade

Our daughter’s family dealt with a serious medical challenge, and dinners from kind neighbors were arranged. The first night, a hot pot of chicken noodle soup arrived, with a side of warm chocolate chip cookies. The next afternoon, friends dropped off lunch—chicken noodle soup and chocolate chip cookies. And that night, yes, chicken noodle soup and chocolate chip cookies was the dinner of choice provided by another good Samaritan. And the next night—you guessed it—another pot of chicken noodle soup and chocolate chip cookies arrived for dinner.

This isn’t just a funny story about chicken noodle soup and chocolate chip cookies. It’s a story of caring for a sister and her family in need. With each spoonful of soup and bite of chocolate chip cookie, our daughter and her family felt loved and supported. Each pot of soup and plate of cookies was made from a different recipe unique to each sister. Isn’t that the way we are in our service? We reach out in our own uniqueness, with our own ways and personally inspired recipes. We don’t get hung up on what to do; we just do it.

Rebecca L. Craven

Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

Simple Acts Are Meaningful

As a covenant people, we’ve promised to serve each other. Being willing to serve in simple ways allows God to bless others through us—and blesses us at the same time. An act of service that’s simple is no less meaningful.

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Rebekah pouring water into a cup held by the servant of Abraham

Rebekah at the Well, by Michael Deas

Rebekah of the Old Testament was an example of simple, caring service. When travelers came to her home and asked for a drink from the well, she gladly served them—and then went beyond by offering to draw water for their camels. This simple service didn’t mean it wasn’t hard—camels can drink gallons and gallons, and yet she served willingly, filling the trough and running again to draw more water until all 10 camels were done drinking the life-giving water. Rebekah expected no glory in return for her simple service, but by demonstrating her character, she was welcomed into Isaac’s family and blessed generations through her son Jacob, the father of the house of Israel. (See Genesis 24.)

Principles to Consider

As you consider your opportunities and assignments to minister to others, consider these principles illustrated in the stories:

Simple service can be meaningful. Don’t wait until you have the perfect pot of soup. Jump in and do what you can when you see a need.
Don’t be embarrassed by what you have to offer. When we are willing to do what we can with what we have, God can make a lot out of a little (see Mark 6:34–44).
“The Lord loves effort, and effort brings rewards.”¹ As in the story of Rebekah, God can use our simple efforts to serve to bless us and others, sometimes for generations to come.

What Can We Do?

When you see an opportunity to serve, don’t wait because you wonder if you have anything to offer. God will bless you and others for your willingness to serve.