With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: —Ephesians 6:7

At the beginning of July, my brother and I had the opportunity to go on our first missions trip. If you missed reading my first post about the experience, it’s titled Encountering the Fatherless. The main purpose of the trip was construction. While giving the team instructions, the missionary in charge said something that really made me think.

He told us that one of the most valuable things we could do was work with a smile. He told us to smile while we were making cement, cutting rebar, and playing with the kids. Why? Because when the people see foreigners not only working voluntarily, but doing so cheerfully, they wonder why? They ask why strangers would be so happy to come and help people they don’t even know. In turn, those questions would give the missionary an opportunity to share the gospel.

I think that concept is true throughout life. When people observe Christians working, serving, and worshiping with joyful hearts, they ask questions. Begrudging service is not attractive to anyone. We are to be lights in a dark world, and our smiles are tools to help that light shine brighter.

…he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. —Romans 12:8

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. —2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Working with a smile can be applied effectively to serving orphans. When we talk about orphans, does the joy of serving the Lord by helping the fatherless bubble out of us? Our smiles can show that others that we’re not doing this because we’re duty bound to it. We don’t love orphans simply because God told us we have to. We care because we love God and he loves them. We are happy to serve. We are investing of ourselves cheerfully.

All of these things can be communicated by working with a smile. People will take notice when that type of joy starts flowing out of God’s servants.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. —Psalm 5:11

Do you serve the Lord cheerfully? Is your joy visible to those who see you? Have you ever had something special happen because you were working with a smile?