Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living by Charles Swindoll

1981, 212 pages

This book can be summed up in Matthew 20:28: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

“Since Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself the role of a servant, so must we. The One who could have been or done anything, consciously and voluntarily, chose to be one who served, one who gave. So then, if we are to become increasingly more like Christ, (that is still our goal, isn’t it?) then we, too, are to give and serve.”

“The role of serving may seem insignificant but, in reality, it is dynamite.”

Both of the above quotes are near the end of the book, after the author has taken you through a history of our natural selfishness, described a servant’s heart in detail, warned of pitfalls and danger from without and within, and told of the rewards of serving. Starting with the Bible, he presents a strong case for serving for Jesus’ sake.

This book is over forty years old but that doesn’t negate its advice. I found it familiar and must have read it years ago. I spent two months reading it in my morning quiet time, and the reread was good for me. I closed the last page convinced that serving was the best use of my time. If you would like to improve your serving, maybe this book would help.

About the author: Charles ‘Chuck’ Swindoll (born in El Campo, TX in 1934, 91 years old) is a retired evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher. He is married to Cynthia Parker since 1955 and they have four children, several grandchildren and some great-grandchildren, too. He is not affiliated with a specific denomination. Chuck has devoted himself to communicating practical biblical truth in the context of God’s grace.

This book is easily available used or new. It will encourage you to be a force for good in a world of evil.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”