To understand how a Christian is to have a proper heart of a servant, we must first understand our standing in Christ. We must have a grasp of what our role with Christ and, most importantly, His role in our lives.
Understanding Christ’s Role
He is Lord. Well, at least we call Him: Lord. But do we really live like He is our Lord and Master. Christ is the Head of the body. He is the Vine; we are the branches. Christ is the True Light and we are to be witnesses of that light. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. We are not. Let’s make sure we keep things in perspective. He is in control and we will be happy and at peace when we accept His role as Lord and our role as servant.
I remember as a child seeing the bumper sticker in the church parking lot that read: God is my co-pilot. Even as a youth I had to wonder: If God is the co-pilot, than who exactly is the pilot? We want control of the flight plan while God already has the trip mapped out. How much easier for us to work with His plan instead of trying to create our own?
Why do we insist on fighting against God? He has the power, wisdom, knowledge, authority, and presence to take care of whatever comes our way. Why do we think that we have a better plan? It is silly when you think about it and arrogant of us when we become realistic about it.
Understanding our Role
After having a clear view of God’s role as Lord and Master of our lives, we need to change our perspective on our role. I Corinthians 16:20 reminds us that “we are bought with a price”. We are therefore indebted to Him because of the salvation that he gave us in saving our souls from eternal hell and paying the high cost of redemption upon Calvary.
The Word of God, though, goes a step further for us. It paints a picture of honor above what we deserve. The Word of God when referring to us, that is Christians, as servants uses the term Therapon. Therapon in the Greek means: noble servant. This is the term used for Moses in his role before God and Joseph in his role before Pharaoh. The Greek word for bond servant in the Bible is Doulos. This position has no authority, no rights, no say. We are servants before God, but we are noble servants with the rights of sons and daughters in the kingdom of God. We are not bond servants, or slaves as we may know them. We do not spend eternity in a broken state. We are a child of the king and joint heirs with Him!
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Being a servant toward others
The idea of a servant is so foreign to the mindset of our culture and education today that this principle has become difficult for the church to comprehend as well. In a world where we are constantly told that “you must love yourself before you can love others” and “ you deserve to be …” the concept of servanthood too often falls on deaf ears.
Christ humbled Himself; abased Himself to take on humanity, leave the splendor of the throne of Heaven and live and die on the earth. Christ became a servant for us and towards us as an example of how we are to respond. When we truly come to the conclusion that our life is not our own; our time is not our own; our abilities are a gift from the Almighty, then we can begin to embrace serving others with joy in our hearts.
Being a servant toward family & spouse
Happiness and joy does not happen in the context of the home without understanding our role to serve and not to be served. I believe my role as husband and father of my home is to be the provider. That does not stop when my forty hour work week is up but continues during my time in the home. I am a servant to my family in providing their needs, listening to their concerns and assisting them with daily tasks.
Rather than barking at the children to take out the trash, why don’t you take it out as an example and you may be surprised how quickly and readily they begin to assist and join in helping with other activities. When I am intent on serving and not waiting to see who is doing what for me – then joy enters my home and things are at peace and rest.
Being a servant leads to ultimate joy
In John 13 we have the example that Christ left us of washing His disciple’s feet. Christ mentions the importance of being a servant and that the Master is not greater than the servant or vice versa (verses 13-16). Christ concludes in verse 17 by telling the disciples: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. According to Jesus Christ, happiness comes by being a servant. We haven’t heard that on any ‘feel good’ talk show lately have we? Service leads to happiness and joy. Being a servant and having a servant’s heart is the basis for joy and contentment.
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