“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.”

This quote comes from a famous President on his first day in office. Presidents taking office have faced many challenges, but this one faced a crisis the world had never seen. After a time of financial prosperity, the bottom fell out. Many people had lost vast sums of money , their jobs, and their homes.

Franklin Roosevelt said these words on March 4, 1933. In today's world it rings with irony as we face financial uncertainty. His challenge to the nation to stop hoping to ministered to them, but to minister to "our fellow man" was a great call to action then and it is a call to action now as well. These words could be spoken by our new President on Tuesday or by a pastor in a church on a Sunday.

Service to our fellow woman and man is central to the Jesus' teaching. Jesus lived out the meaning of servant hood. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the position of servant and washed His disciples feet. Humbling Himself as the lowliest servant calls us the do the same.

President Roosevelt issued a challenge to a nation at a crossroads in 1933 , just as we stand in a place of uncertainty in 2009. Our new president is calling people to serve, but we should not need a government official to remind us that , when all worldly things are stripped away that the greatest thing we can do is serve our fellow man, following Jesus Christ's example.

Quote source: www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,745290,00.html