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In the classic movie White Christmas, a rather cynical Bob Wallace (played by Bing Crosby) tells Betty Haynes (played by Rosemary Clooney), “Everybody’s got an angle.” Everybody, he thinks, is looking out for himself first, making sure his own needs are met, regardless of anyone else’s.

That movie was made back in 1954, but some things never change, do they? We live in a selfish society, one in which each person keeps his eyes on his individual prize. And that’s exactly why an excited, motivated, God-led, selfless Christian can have such a significant impact.

This week, Treasures of the Transformed Life addresses the topic of service, and it’s so much more than just making sure that all of the items on the church’s to-do list are marked off through volunteer activities. Serving others actually gives us an opportunity to be more like Jesus, the most selfless servant of all. Here’s a reminder through this week’s Scripture verse, introduced in this week’s Sunday school/small group meeting: “I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28 NLT).

When we truly understand the depths of what God has done for us, our natural response is to do something in return. The beautiful thing, though, is that he has uniquely gifted us with different passions and interests, so we can bless him—and bless others—through things we can enjoy. Service doesn’t have to be drudgery.

Someone who likes to sing, for example, might find a place of service in the church choir. Someone who enjoys kids could plug into the children’s ministry. And someone who likes to organize could find a place in the food pantry or church office.

The difference between serving in the church and serving in the world, however, is the expectation of what we’ll get in return. Just as Bing Crosby said, a lot of people really do have an angle, expecting recognition or reward for their time and effort.

So what about you? What are the places you serve, and what are the reasons you do so?

Sooner or later, you’ll discover it.

It’s not some new math, some twisted form of algebra, or even a modified version of addition and subtraction; Instead, it’s often described as “God math,” and it defies all sorts of human logic.

It works like this: You give money to the church or to someone in need, even though you don’t really have it to give. You make a sacrifice. God then does a miraculous thing: Since you’ve done his business, he takes care of yours. You find that your own need is satisfied, sometimes in a surprising way.

Anne Frank summed it up in this week’s lesson from Treasures of the Transformed Life: “No one has ever become poor by giving.”

Did you ever wonder why?

It could be that being generous with our finances allows us to be rich in faith. The more we see “God math” in our own lives, the more confident we become that God really will meet all of our needs.

Besides all that, though, giving a regular tithe demonstrates to God that we consider him more important than we consider money. It keeps us from allowing money to become an idol in our lives. Have you ever thought about it that way?

The truth is, God doesn’t just want our cash—even if does help fund church programs and ministries. What he really wants is our hearts. He wants us to turn to him and say, “Whatever I have, it’s yours.”

Consider the Scripture verse presented in this week’s Sunday school/small group meeting: “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” (Ps. 116:12 NLT).

It reminds us that we can never pay back God for his great gifts to us. One thing we can do, however, is cheerfully start with the tithe, the very least he asks of us. Set aside that 10 percent every week as soon as you get a paycheck, and you’ll never miss it. It will show God that you’re serious about putting him first—and it will continue to give him opportunities to supply your every need, just as he promised he would.

There’s an old joke that a woman hasn’t fully committed to attending an event until she’s decided what she’s going to wear to it.

Laugh if you want, but there’s a deeper message here: Showing up often involves a level of preplanning and dedication.

And that’s true on Sunday mornings as much as it is any other time of the week. So consider this: When it comes to attending church, is your assumption that you’ll be there every week, and everything else must work around that commitment? Or is your thought that you’ll go as long as you don’t have too much else to do? This week’s readings in Treasures of the Transformed Life focus on presence, an important concept for any Christian.

To help explain why, let’s go over this week’s Scripture verse, introduced in the Sunday school/small group meeting: “since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others” (Rom. 12:5 NLT).

Notice the part that says, “each of us needs all the others.” It’s hoped that the next time you consider missing worship service, that phrase will stick in your mind. See, we need to be careful about the idea that we go to church just so we can get something out of it. Going to church also offers us an opportunity for us to give.

What kind of church would we be if every member—every single member—showed up on Sunday with the thought, Who can I bless today? or How can I serve?

No doubt, it would be a place where needs were met. It would be a place of joy, excitement, and selflessness. And it would be a place in which everyone felt that they fit. As journalist and author Jane Howard once said, “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”

And it, apparently, needs you, too.

If you’ve ever tried to drop a few pounds, you’ve probably noticed something interesting: You won’t get very far if you only watch what you eat a couple of days a week, and you don’t build much muscle if you only exercise once a month.

Prayer works the same way. You’re not likely to notice much difference in your relationship with God if you only check in occasionally. You’re not likely to build much faith if you’re not regularly stretching your ears to hear.

This week’s lesson from Treasures of the Transformed Life focuses on prayer. It’s presented as the root system that helps us grow and flourish, much like the tree planted by the riverside, with constant access to living water.

Remember the week’s Scripture verse, introduced in the Sunday school/small group lesson: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit” (John 15:5 NLT).

Having an active prayer life, then, isn’t about rattling off a list of wants and desires. It is, if you recall, a chance for us to partner with the One who made us, to receive encouragement, direction, joy, peace, and wisdom for our lives. It’s a chance for us to produce much fruit. Fruit that makes others long for what we have. Fruit that shows the world what being a Christian is really about.

So how’s your own prayer life? This week, as you’ve been reading about the benefits of regular conversation with God, are you encouraged to start having those conversations a little bit more regularly? Are you compelled to listen more and talk less, or to ask God’s insight on things you might previously have tried to handle on your own?

William H. P. Faunce puts it this way: “No man can follow Christ and go astray.”

Prayer, as you’ve no doubt figured out, helps us follow Christ in a new, living, and active way. As we’re promised in Proverbs 8:17 (NLT): “Those who search for me will surely find me,” and prayer is great place to find exactly who—and what—you’re searching for.

So what kind of conversations are you having today?