Albert Schweitzer was born in 1875.

Albert Schweitzer was born in a small town in Germany. During his lifetime, he was known as a philosopher, a physician, and a humanitarian. At age 21, Schweitzer decided to dedicate the first part of his life to studying the arts, sciences, music, and theology. During that time, he became a respected writer on theology, an accomplished organist, and an authority on the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1905, Albert Schweitzer began to prepare for his other life—a life dedicated to serving others.

Schweitzer studied medicine, earned his degree in 1913, and then left for west Africa to establish a missionary hospital in Gabon. Except for a few short interruptions, Schweitzer spent his remaining 50 years in Africa fighting leprosy and sleeping sickness. For his work and dedication, Dr. Schweitzer won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. He later used the $33,000 prize to expand his missionary hospital and to build a leper colony.

But perhaps his most notable accomplishment was being called the greatest Christian of his time. Dr. Schweitzer served humanity through thought and action, what he called a “reverence for life.” In a speech given in 1935, Dr. Schweitzer advised students, “Those will be happy who are looking for, and are finding, how they can serve.”

Jesus said that serving others is the highest calling anyone can answer. He told his disciples that he had come not to be served, but give his very life in serving others. Should his followers do no less? Dr. Schweitzer didn’t think so.

“For even 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” (Matthew 20:28).

To Do

Write down three ways you can serve others today.

Also on this day . . .

It’s National Clean Off Your Desk Day

1784—The United States ratified a peace treaty with England, ending the Revolutionary War.

1952—NBC’s Today show premiered.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.