In these eleven verses the words “serve” and “service” appear thirteen times. The first thing the king wanted to do was to establish clearly the reasons for which a true ruler or leader is in his position: he is called to serve. The Savior himself showed us how it is done. For his mortal ministry he came not to rule and reign (that is what will happen at his second coming); he came first as a servant: “I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). He expects us to do likewise: forget ourselves and serve others.
King Benjamin had not accrued riches at the people’s expense; he had not allowed the people to be lawless or lascivious; he had not been lazy but had labored along with the people with his own hands so as not to burden them with excessive taxes. Benjamin had “a clear conscience before God” in his dealings with his fellow man. In fact, through serving his people he had only been in the service of God. Out in the world, others can substitute for us (as in many humanitarian organizations and efforts), but in the kingdom of God others cannot substitute for us; each of us is called to serve.