“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NLT)

The happiest people are those who give their lives away.

That’s because the values of God’s kingdom are opposite of the world’s values. In God’s kingdom, the most important person takes last place and serves everyone else. The Bible says it like this: “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26 NLT).

That’s why, to grow spiritually as a disciple of Jesus, you’ve got to learn to serve others. Life isn’t about taking; it’s about giving back.

Let me give you a little advice: The key to happiness is to find significance.

But the problem is, we look for significance in all the wrong places. Success doesn’t give significance because you can always find somebody who is more successful than you. Salary doesn’t give you significance, and neither does status or sex.

So where can you find real significance? Through service.

God wants you to learn to serve so you can be like him. The most miserable people are self-centered—living for their own pleasures, needs, and comfort. The happiest people, whether they are rich or poor, are those who give their lives away in service to others.

Our model for this is Jesus. He said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 NLT). He came to “serve” and to “give.” That defines the Christian life. The more you learn to serve and give, the happier you’re going to be. 

In a way, service is like spiritual exercise. Just like physical exercise helps you grow strong physically, serving others helps you grow spiritually. You can’t spend all your time studying the Bible and listening to sermons. You have to put what you’re learning into practice by serving others.

Jesus said it like this: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NIV). 

When you follow that command, you’ll find happiness and significance. And, most importantly, you’ll become more like Jesus.