Samuel ministered to the LORD

Curious.  I've always thought about the purpose of a 'minister' being to minister to the needs of the Lord's people.  But 1st Samuel points out a purpose that has precidence over ministering to people (emphasis and annotation mine)...

Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy [Samuel] ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest. (1Samuel2:11; ESV)

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Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.(1Samuel2:18; ESV)

You have to get yourself right with respect to God before you can be of use to your fellow man.