Serving G-d: Bonding or Bondage? – Sparks

“For unto Me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants who I took out of the land of Egypt;
I am the Lord G- d.” ~~ Leviticus 25:55

There is an Eastern teaching that proclaims, “Be here and now.” Torah however would say, “Serve G-d here and now.” Indeed, this is the fullest experience of life.

The Kabbalah teaches that G-d wants to be present in the here and now, and our job is to serve G-d in that desire. Therefore, to serve G-d means to infuse each moment with the presence of G-d. In other words, I must always ask myself, “How can I serve G- d right now?”

If right now I am with my friend, spouse or child, I should see this moment as an opportunity to show him/her love and thus serve G-d, who is the source of all love. It’s not my love. I didn’t invent love. I didn’t create love and I didn’t give it its’ power and meaning. Love did not start with me and love will not end with me. I am not the master of love but I am the servant of love and when I love someone I am serving to make G-d’s love present in the here and now.

My service to G-d (who wants to be present in this world in the here and the now) is to channel His love, compassion, justice, wisdom or whatever divine value the moment calls for—present in this moment. That is fully living. The goal of life is to serve G-d here and now, to be present in this moment.
Torah teaches that there is no greater joy in life than to serve G-d. G-d wants to be present in this world through you and me. To live G-d’s purpose is to serve. This is our ultimate reward, accomplishment and ecstasy. This is the meaning of our existence on earth and this is the key to happiness.