Keith Battle - The Cost of Service

I want to use as a subject today the cost of service—what does it cost to serve? Now, when I say «the cost of service,» I need to make a clear distinction. In the world of commerce and in the world of business, the terminology «the cost of service» refers to what the bill of sale is; it indicates what you owe someone for the service they provide for you. So, if you get your hair done, or you have your nails done, or you get your car cleaned, or your house cleaned, or if you have landscaping done, or lawn care, or if you have a personal trainer who helps you with your fitness—if you get any of those things, the cost of service is what you pay the person who provided the service.

It is significant that we make that distinction because, as much of an entrepreneur as I am, I am not talking about what you should charge people per hour for your services. This is not a pep talk or a motivational speech for starting your own business and knowing what people should pay you for the services you’re rendering. This has nothing to do with what you receive for serving; it’s about what it costs you to serve.

In the world of enterprise, the cost of service is what the person who serves receives. In this passage, I want to discuss what it costs the person who provides the service, because service costs you. I think it’s crucial to have this conversation because many people get involved in service naively. They get involved because they know it’s the right thing to do, and they have this great intention to be helpful and to make a difference, but they have no idea of all that comes with serving. There are certain costs associated with service, as well as challenges and drama—particularly when there are people involved.

There will be challenges; some things will be happy, some things will be positive, and some will make you change your mind about service. We need to have this conversation because many people are not serving at all because they don’t want to deal with any drama or pressure. They want to find a service opportunity that fits their skill set perfectly, matches their schedule perfectly, aligns with their resources perfectly, and is drama-free and carefree. But I’m telling you, there are no service opportunities like that.

We have to understand, and we must normalize the fact that service will cost you; there is some pain that accompanies service. There is suffering in serving, and there are difficulties that come with the circle of service. I want to help normalize the difficulties that accompany service—that there is a cost to serve, and that Jesus is teaching us in this passage through His example that it’s not only right to serve, but it’s also hard to serve.

I’m going to give you about five observations about what we can learn about the cost of service from Jesus, and then I’ll add a few aside points about this blind man, because again, we can’t omit him from the story. There’s much to learn from both of their lives. So, let’s go back to verse one, where we’ll start again and walk slowly enough so that we don’t miss important things. It starts off by saying, «As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who was born blind.» Jesus is walking along and sees what I’m about to see: a man. I don’t know if this man in this context was born blind, but Jesus saw a man who had been born blind. That is very important—Jesus saw. Without the man even telling Jesus how long he had been in this condition or how he had come to be in this condition, Jesus, without any information, knew that the man was born this way.

So, the first thing I want to say is that Jesus sees and He knows. He sees and He knows. I will return to the application for us—those of us who serve and those of us involved in ministry service. But I want you to first understand that as Jesus is moving along, He sees and He knows. He not only sees this man’s condition, but He knows the condition. He knows why the man is like this; He knows how long the man has been in this situation; He knows the origin of it; He knows the history of this man’s situation. Jesus sees and He knows.

I need to pause here for a moment because someone listening to me right now needs to be encouraged that whatever you are going through in your life, whatever pain you have in your life, I have a word for you: Jesus sees it and He knows it. He sees and He knows; He is aware. Now, I feel joy even if He doesn’t fix it— even if He hasn’t fixed it yet. I am relieved to know that He sees what I’m dealing with, that He sees it. I want His attention on what I’m struggling with; I want His attention on what is hurting me and the areas where I’m suffering.