Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that all Christians are called to serve, but not necessarily in the same role or capacity, or using the same spiritual gifts.

God recognizes the diversity within the Christian community. 
Therefore, as indicated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, the Holy Spirit endows Christians with a variety of spiritual gifts in the manner that He determines would be of the greatest benefit in building up the body of Christ (that is, the Church). Then, based on His knowledge of those gifts He also calls them to diverse roles or positions within the Church, again as He wills, as noted in that same chapter.

That service need not necessaily be something that would be considered extraordinary or heroic in human terms. It could be as unexceptional as looking for opportunities during routine daily activities to tell others about Christ. Even someone who is otherwise completely incapacitated can serve God through devotion to prayer or intercession on behalf of others. (As Jesus said, someone who performs an act even as seemingly insignificant as giving a cup of cold water to a child out of a motivation of service to God will not lose his or her reward (Matthew 10:42).) 

However, at the same time, Christians should strive to do all that their abilities or gifts (as well as the opportunities for service that are presented or available to them) enable them to do, in gratitude to God for the grace that He has shown them.

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Scott Broberg Fig Tree Ministries

In some capacity, yes – we are all called to serve. 

There are many passages on service to one another:

1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 

Galatians 5:13, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

Others include Galatians 6:2; Eph. 5:21; 

The most important verse is Mark 10:45 – Jesus came to serve us. Therefore, if we are to grow into Christ-likeness on our spiritual growth path, it must include service. 

One reason that service to others is such a vital component to our walk with Jesus is that it helps us see people in their complex-humanity without becoming judgmental. 

The cause of so much war, genocide, murder, or hatred towards one another comes because we dimmish the humanity of those different from us. We have the capacity to “de-humanize” other people. 

It happens in an instant. We are often unaware of how we have become judgmental towards – “them” or “other.” 

To fight against this tendency, we must practice serving one another. 

When we serve another human being, we intentionally place ourselves in a subservient posture relative to the other person. When we do that, we begin to see their humanity in all its beautiful complexities. Instead of being judgmental toward their flaws, we are moved to compassion. 

Our example is Jesus washing his disciple’s feet. Jesus lowered himself in the most literal of senses. 

When we intentionally place ourselves beneath another, only then can we begin to see them as God sees us. 

Jesus said, “Judge not lest you be judged” (Matt. 7:1). How can we move away from judgment? Serve one another in love – with zero expectations of anything in return – other than our own spiritual growth.

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Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

I believe scripture is clear that we are all called to serve.

1. God has already prepared good works for each of us

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10)

2. We are all Christ's ambassadors to deliver his gospel

"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

3. We are all part of the body of Christ to help the church function

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:27-28).

4. We all have spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit to serve others

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

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