Servants All
Jesus sprinkled His wonderful teachings with clues as to how to have joy, happiness, and fulfillment. Would you like this triumvirate in your life? Virtually everyone does. A theme He advocated is encouraged over 500 times in the Bible. The noun servant and the verb serve are so mentioned.
Only when “what can I do for you” replaces “what’s in it for me” is a servant temperament possible. If you want to test yourself as to whether you have a servant temperament observe how you react the next time someone treats you like their servant. Often the response is “Who do you think I am, your servant?”
In a “Peanuts” cartoon Charlie Brown asked Lucy, “Why are we here?” The answer, “To serve other people.” Probing further Charlie enquired, “Then, why are other people here?” Like Charlie we are inclined to be more interested in the responsibility of others than our own.
Mother Teresa said, “I belong to Jesus, He must have the right to use me without consulting me.” That is the spirit of this text: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). Being His gives Him the right to use us.
A servant is not greater than his master. Professed followers of Jesus need to remember He came not to be served but to serve.
Some of life’s most meaningful moments are those spent serving others. It is then gratification is experienced.
Albert Schweitzer, a brilliant man with four PhD’s, said, “The only ones among us who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” You want to be happy? Schweitzer offers the key to it: service.
That is the only reason we are here on earth. Failing to realize our purpose and by not fulfilling it people are left unfulfilled and unhappy.
After Benjamin Franklin received a letter thanking him for his service, he responded: “As to the kindness you mentioned, I wish I could have been of more service to you than I have been, but if I had, the only thanks that I should desire are that you would always be ready to serve any other person that may need your assistance … As for my own part, when I am employed in the service of others I do not look upon myself as conferring favors but paying debts.”
This theme was spoken of by Jesus who said, “’Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, My brothers, you have done it to Me.” (Matthew 25: 40) Such a concept is a marvelous motivator.
Servants are inclined to serve without recognition. The pastor who called in members of the press to see a staged setting of him washing a person’s feet missed out on the humility part of servanthood.
No thanks is wanted or deserved for serving. Gratification for having served is the payoff. Service is self-fulfilling. To prove it, do something nice for a person who has no chance of payment. Monitor your feelings. You will realize it really is more blessed to give than to receive.
Pray this prayer offered by George Washington: “Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee.”