A springboard is a strong, flexible board from which someone may jump in order to gain added impetus when performing a dive or a gymnastic movement. During the recent Olympic Games, we saw examples of divers and gymnasts using springboards to gain added height and momentum (e.g. in the vault, balance beam and uneven bars events in gymnastics, gymnasts use a springboard to start the event by springing onto the apparatus; in diving, the springboard enables divers to gain height so as to maximise their ability to turn and twist in the air before they hit the water.)
Our service for God can be motivated by all kinds of reasons: we may feel guilty that we have so much and others have less than us, so we try to compensate for this by giving our belongings or our time to help people; we may feel obliged to serve because we are people-pleasers who can’t say ‘no’ when someone asks us to do something. Service for God needs to be more than drudgery or duty, however. We need the springboard of God’s grace and love as our motivators.
Paul says that the household of Stephanas ‘devoted themselves to the service of God’s people.’ (1 Cor 16:15) He talks of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus refreshing his spirit. (1 Cor 16:18) How do we maintain agility and dexterity in our service for God? How do we get that added ‘oomph’, the additional height we need to keep on doing good?
Paul told the Galatians ‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’ (Gal 6:7-10) Perseverance and stability are needed in service, for there is much that is monotonous, boring and unexciting about any kind of work, even the service of God’s people! What puts spring into our step and zeal into our service is our daily reliance on God’s grace and love. We serve out of gratitude for all God has done for us; we are compelled to serve because we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, merciful, gracious and kind. May all our service have this springboard that lifts us higher and puts a smile on our faces.