Service is important, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is usually more difficult to relapse when giving service than when not. However, “service” is not a sure fire “cure” for relapse, but it certainly helps.

Another equally important reason for service is the opportunity to give back what had been given to me over the years. Let’s face it, if there weren’t any service, there probably wouldn’t be an SA International Central Office, or Intergroup. On a local level, if no one is giving service, there probably won’t be a meeting secretary or a core group of members to carry the meeting through the “lean” times. And if there are no officers, there probably won’t be a meeting there for long. And if the meeting goes dark, where do I go for support? Lust is far too cunning, baffling and powerful for me to tangle with on my own. In fact, every time I try to deal with lust on my own, my attempts are doomed to failure.

That’s how important the fellowship is. Without the fellowship, there probably would be no recovery. And without service, there probably wouldn’t be fellowship. I’m not negating God in this equation. It’s been my personal experience that God usually works through people and circumstances. Take away the people and there’s no reason for the circumstance — a meeting. Without the meeting and the fellowship, how will God communicate his message to you?

Service provides a means for the continuation of the fellowship, as well as the organization. Somebody has to be there to greet the newcomer, open the door, get the meeting started, put the chairs away afterwards, collect the money, buy literature, produce meeting schedules, conduct and participate in business meetings, chair conferences, respond to mail, answer the phone, and hundreds of other things we now take for granted.

Service is also a way to get blessed. By giving, we receive. I don’t understand it. I just acknowledge it. This is another one of those 12 Step paradoxes that crop up all over the place.