Steadfast Servants – Part Three
Galatians 5: 22, 23
Jesus is said to have come to serve and not be served.
Regardless of the office we hold, how prominent we are in society, how lofty our position in the business world, we are to be servants of God.
To check your self-concept as a servant, note how you respond the next time someone treats you like a servant. If your attitude is, perhaps unspoken but felt, “Who do you think I am your servant,” you have reason for growth.
It eases the burden if we consider ourselves the servants of Jesus, engaged in serving others in His name. That we are charged to be: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of God….” (I Corinthians 4: 1)
The term translated “servants” was well known in the era of the writing. It was used to describe the people who rowed large ships. Those who remember the movie “Ben Hur” can never forget the rank of rowers in the ship. There were two deck levels of rowers. The term translated “servants” was the term used for those on the lower level. They were called the “under-rowers.” We are the under-rowers of our Lord. He is our captain, we His servants, His under-rowers.
A servant lives to serve. Are you living to serve the Lord? Don’t allow yourself to stagnate or become arrested in your spiritual growth.
In 1924 George Leigh Mallory and some other Englishmen set out to climb the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. At the altitude of 25,000 feet they established a base camp. From there they started their assault on the summit. They failed and to this day they lie buried on that Himalayan peak under tons of ice.
The others returned to London to tell their story. One who did stood before a large picture of Mount Everest as he addressed a large audience. Concluding his speech he turned to the picture and addressed it as though it had personality. “Everest,” he said, “we tried to conquer you once, but you overpowered us. We tried a second time but you were too much for us.” Then he said with great resolve: “But I want you to know we are going to conquer you, because you can’t grow any bigger and we can.”
It is with this same resolve we face life. Our problems remain as large as ever, but we can grow and conquer them.
A leader in an imminent office can find great fulfillment by assuming the role of a servant/leader. A leader is who he is. He leads as a servant.
An individual in the lowest role of all can find great fulfillment by realizing that therein he is serving the Lord. Thus, both can find purpose and fulfillment. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men….” (Colossians 3: 23)
Awaiting the obedient servant/steward of our Lord is the fulfillment of His promise: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2: 10)