If you knew in great detail that you were going to be taken against your will, tortured, beaten beyond recognition, and then killed, what would you be doing? Would you be concerned with yourself or others? Jesus knew in detail exactly what would happen and still His concern was not for himself but for others, (us, you and me). Jesus says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came to serve, to be a servant.
What images come to your mind when you hear the word “servant?” Perhaps you envision the waiter or waitress at your favorite restaurant. Maybe you think of the mechanic that you’ve built a relationship with through years of broken cars. Some may even think of their mother who worked tirelessly to care for her family.
When I hear the word “servant,” I think of myself in Law Enforcement. I am here to serve the public and to do what is best for them without regard for my safety or my opinion. (To Serve and Protect.) These are not just words but an unbendable set of rules to live by. Countless times I have had to tolerate a thorough chewing-out over the actions I have taken. Countless times I have had to bite my tongue and not speak. Countless times I have had to give in when I knew I was in the right. I know this is hard to believe for those of you who know me. Many of you think I live by the motto, “I have the right to remain silent, just not the ability.”
Another image that comes to mind by the title “servant” is “minister.” The word is derived from a Latin term meaning “servant” or “minor.” The Bible talks candidly about the minister’s primary role of serving others. Again the question comes up, how do we know a true servant from a false one? Is it by their actions, the way they speak, their title, or the expectations we have of them?
So what is a servant? A servant is one who surrenders what’s best for himself.
Jesus had once again told his disciples that he was going to die and in a most gruesome way. Hearing this, James and John try to place themselves in a good position. They were anticipating all of Jerusalem bowing before Jesus and paying Him honor; instead they bowed before Him mockingly and spit upon Him. They were anticipating a crown of gold; instead He received a crown of thorns. They were anticipating a throne; instead He received a cross. They were anticipating sitting at his right and left; instead criminals were hung there. James and John did not know what it meant to be a servant.
Jesus was choosing to suffer unjustly for the sake of the Gospel. A servant will allow others to treat him unfairly for the sake of Christ (1 Peter 4:12-19). He will not instinctively defend himself but will serve others without expectation of reward. So why would a servant relinquish what’s best for himself? It’s not that a servant seeks last place by bowing down but that he wishes others to receive first place and promotes them over himself.
What does the Bible say about being a servant?
The Bible has a great deal to say about servanthood because the central theme of the Bible is the Servant of all—Jesus Christ. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
1. When we give Jesus Christ His rightful place as Lord of our lives, His lordship will be expressed in the way we serve others (Mark 9:35; 1 Peter 4:10; John 15:12-13).
2. How do we demonstrate love for God? Our love for God will be expressed in our love for others.
3. “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
True leadership is servanthood and the greatest leader of all time is Jesus.
Being a servant is an attitude exemplified by Christ “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7).
The five words in the New Testament translated “ministry” generally refer to servanthood or service given in love. Serving others is the very essence of ministry. All believers are called to ministry (Matthew 28:18-20); therefore, we are all called to be servants for the glory of God. To do this we need the heart of a servant.
The Heart of a Servant
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The apostle Paul added to this focus when he wrote, “Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but the interests of others as well” (Philippians 2:4). Pointing to the Savior as our great example, he quickly added, “You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.”
Do you have a servant’s heart? Has God blessed you with the insight to see the needs of others and reach out in compassion and understanding even when they cannot reach out and ask for help?
If so, you must first humble yourself before the Lord and let His will take precedence over your circumstances, your emotions, your finances, and your actions. It doesn’t matter what you own, how much money you have in the bank, how talented or educated you are, or how many people you know. If God calls you to have a servant’s heart, He will make a way for you to accomplish what He has put on your heart to do.
A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. It’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about making yourself uncomfortable so that someone else could be comfortable.
So how do you become a servant?
1. Develop a SERVANT MENTALITY.
This is the first step in becoming a successful servant. You must have a mentality that says, “My purpose on this earth is to serve God.” You must realize that God is in charge. You must realize your position in life. You must change your way of thinking from “me-centered” thinking to “Him-centered” thinking. This world does not revolve around you. Everything that happens in the world is not about you. You are here to serve God – not the other way around.
2. Have a DETERMINATION to serve.
It is not enough just to have a servant’s mentality – you must be determined to serve. You must be determined to help. If you want to be a successful servant of God you must develop a determination to be of help. Give of your time. Give of your energy. Give of your resources. Give of yourself. The scripture says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”
Types of givers:
a. Those who give because they can. They have abundance and they give out of their abundance.
b. Those who are able to give, but don’t. They have the enough to give yet for whatever reason they don’t give. Perhaps it is because they have not taken the first step of a servant. They still have a “me-centered” mentality – rather than a Christ-centered mentality.
c. Those givers who have very little but give of what they have. They give sacrificially.
3. Commit to FOLLOWING GOD.
Every one of us is following someone or something. Some of us listen to friends’ advice. Other’s listen to the opinions of the so-called “experts.” Some of us follow family customs or perhaps the accepted social norm. All of us follow something. We need to commit to following God.
4. Start serving WHERE YOU ARE.
Many people are waiting for the right time and the right place to start serving. Let me tell you, the right time to serve is now. The right place to serve is where you are. The minute you start meeting the needs around you, you become a servant.
Real servants think like stewards, not owners. They remember God owns it all. In the Bible, a steward was a servant entrusted to manage an estate. We all need to be servants, caring and being good stewards of all God has entrusted us with. Change your thinking from me to Him.
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