--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But know that to serve God is nothing…" description: "\"But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a child, wife, servant, enemy, friend…If you d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg" --- # But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve… ![“But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a child, wife, servant, enemy, friend…If you do not find yourself among the needy and the poor, where the Gospel shows us Christ, then you may know that your faith is not right, and that you…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg) > “But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a child, wife, servant, enemy, friend…If you do not find yourself among the needy and the poor, where the Gospel shows us Christ, then you may know that your faith is not right, and that you have not yet tasted of Christ's benevolence and work for you.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serving God is equated with loving and serving neighbors, especially the poor, as a measure of genuine faith and Christ-like benevolence. **In simple terms:** Love and serve others as a sign of true faith. Key Takeaway Seek to help those in need as a test of belief. Themes faith service poverty love morality Mood reflective compassionate Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - charitable work - community service - personal discipleship - church outreach Key Concepts Christian ethics social justice Questions to Reflect On - Who do you consider your neighbor? - How can you serve the marginalized authentically? A Different Perspective The definition of “neighbor” can be contested, and not all acts of service reflect inner faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Serving god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-god/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [Anything that doesn't lead us to that - to better know and serve God - is a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-foucauld/anything-that-doesn-t-lead-us-to-that-to-better-know-and-serve-god-is/) [Charles de Foucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-foucauld/) > [“No man is free to ignore God’s standards. No one has the right to choose not to serve God, for God has made man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/no-man-is-free-to-ignore-god-s-standards-no-one-has-the-right-to/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [Look after everybody So that they are happy to see you. It is better to serve the devotee of god than to serve god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/look-after-everybody-so-that-they-are-happy-to-see-you-it-is-better/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [He who does not serve God where he is would not serve God anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/he-who-does-not-serve-god-where-he-is-would-not-serve-god-anywhere/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Love God, serve God; everything is in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-of-assisi/love-god-serve-god-everything-is-in-that/) [Clare of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-of-assisi/) > [The fastest way to know God is to serve the God in someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-reinhart/the-fastest-way-to-know-god-is-to-serve-the-god-in-someone-else/) Peter Reinhart > [In various ways all of us should be constantly finding people and situations that are dead, buried, and covered up in order to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fuller/in-various-ways-all-of-us-should-be-constantly-finding-people-and/) [Millard Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fuller/) > [If you want to be first to the kingdom of god,you must serve first to the god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-altiveros/if-you-want-to-be-first-to-the-kingdom-of-god-you-must-serve-first-to/) [Elizabeth Altiveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-altiveros/) > [“There comes a time in everyone's life when they must decide if they will serve God or serve Satan. There are only two choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bertram/there-comes-a-time-in-everyone-s-life-when-they-must-decide-if-they/) [Robin Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bertram/) > [“This is the God we serve, the God who knew us before He made us. The God who promises to remain with us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/this-is-the-god-we-serve-the-god-who-knew-us-before-he-made-us-the/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“We only serve God when we serve people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/we-only-serve-god-when-we-serve-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It is within my power either to serve God or not to serve Him. Serving Him, I add to my own good and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/it-is-within-my-power-either-to-serve-god-or-not-to-serve-him-serving/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Do you serve God or do you serve your feelings? Believe the Word of God over and above your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/do-you-serve-god-or-do-you-serve-your-feelings-believe-the-word-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [They serve God well, who serve his creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-norton/they-serve-god-well-who-serve-his-creatures/) [Caroline Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-norton/) > [You know I find that when you serve, when you help others it comes back to you, automatically, it is a philosophy that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/you-know-i-find-that-when-you-serve-when-you-help-others-it-comes/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Benevolence quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) Emmanuel des Essarts > [“Now general benevolence was one of the leading features of the Pickwickian theory, and no one was more remarkable for the zealous manner in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/now-general-benevolence-was-one-of-the-leading-features-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [When you have lived as long as I have, the div replied, you find that cruelty and benevolence are but shades of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/when-you-have-lived-as-long-as-i-have-the-div-replied-you-find-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/generosity-during-life-is-a-very-different-thing-from-generosity-in/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [There is in St. Paul's definite, soul-stirring assertion of the wrath of God and the reality of the judgment at hand, a truth more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-allen/there-is-in-st-paul-s-definite-soul-stirring-assertion-of-the-wrath/) [Roland Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-allen/) > [Men resemble the gods in nothing so much as in doing good to their fellow creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/men-resemble-the-gods-in-nothing-so-much-as-in-doing-good-to-their/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/general-benevolence-but-not-general-friendship-made-a-man-what-he/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) [Browse all 371 Benevolence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a child, wife, servant, enemy, friend…If you do not find yourself among the needy and the poor, where the Gospel shows us Christ, then you may know that your faith is not right, and that you have not yet tasted of Christ's benevolence and work for you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-else-than-to-serve-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benevolence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-else-than-to-serve-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/martin-luther-106_benevolence_but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-el_2182446.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a…” — Martin Luther", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Luther", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But know that to serve God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-else-than-to-serve-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-know-that-to-serve-god-is-nothing-else-than-to-serve-your/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```