You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13
“Our service to mankind must be given freely. One who is in such a position must be subject to everyone and serve his brothers as if he were paying off a debt. Moreover, those who are in charge should work harder than the others and conduct themselves with greater submission than their own subjects. Their lives should serve as a visible example of what service means, and they should remember that those who are committed to their trust are held in trust from God.”
Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-c.395) in Letter 2> as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 500.
Gregory helps us see that the trajectory of generous Christian service is opposite from the world in at least three ways.
Firstly, our generous service is given freely. When Jesus sent the first disciples on mission, He proclaimed, “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:5-8). We get to do the same thing.
Secondly, our service equates with paying off a debt. Paul describes this debt as owing a “debt to love one another” (Romans 13:8). And we can always be generous too because we never run out of love.
Thirdly, our service grows rather shrinks. Remember, Jesus said “the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Luke 22:26)
So, while the world might charge, might act entitled to receive rather than give, and seek to serve less, we get to “work harder” with “greater submission” just like our Lord Jesus Christ.