Service Noun: 1. The action of helping or doing work for someone. I helped my team kill crota, therefore I have performed a service for both my teammates and the NPC of Eris Morn. Anything I get in return for that service is considered earned by the English language. This is a very clear example of earning. Walking into a store to buy a lottery ticket is not helping anyone or doing any work, and is therefore not earned. Again, this is by definition.