“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.”
Mark 10:43 MSG
We serve God by serving others.
How do we define greatness? Society has defined greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. In our me-first western culture, being a servant is not something highly esteemed.
Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service and not status.
“God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.”
Rick Warren
We see even while Jesus was physically present in the world his own disciples arguing and fighting over their title and position of greatness. Sadly, it’s an argument that still rages today, Christian leaders jockeying for position. Thousands of books have been written about leadership but few in comparison about servanthood.
Everyone thinks they want to lead, few want to be true servants. Us Christians have even coined the phrase “servant-leader” but Jesus was never referred to as such. Jesus was just a servant.
Knowing your SHAPE to serve God is important but having a heart of a servant is even more important. God has shaped us for service and not self-importance. Our hearts will be tested. Yes, we want our SHAPE to fit our ministry but always with the right heart that looks to meet needs outside of our ministry.
Anyone can be a servant, all it requires is character.
A true servant makes room to serve. Our life and schedule can be filled up very quickly, a heart for service is intentional about prioritising time to serve. If we only serve when it’s convenient, we’re not really servants. How available to God are you?
Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help people.
God places opportunity before us to serve. These enable us to grow in our servanthood. These opportunities may not last long and so we best seize them when they occur.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”
John Wesley – Pioneer of the Methodist Church
Greatness is to serve.
True servants just do what needs to be done. There will never be the perfect circumstances to serve. God expects to do what we can with what we have, now.
The size of the task should be irrelevant. Big or small, it’s our heart that matters. We are never too “big” to serve. Jesus specialised in menial tasks. Nothing was beneath Jesus. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks.
“The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants.” says Rick Warren.
True servants are faithful.
Servants finish their task, fulfil their responsibilities, keep their promises and complete their commitments. Servants don’t quit when it gets tough. Faithfulness has always been a rare quality. Can you be counted on by others? God will test your faithfulness.
To be a servant means that you don’t call attention to yourself. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix. We don’t serve for the applause of people. God has put you where you are for a purpose. We need to know the difference between prominence and significance. Service is about significance. Don’t be discouraged when your service isn’t notice, keep on serving God.
Summary:
Remember – I serve God by serving others.
Key Bible Verse – “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” – Matthew 10:42 NIV
Pray – Father, may I see the opportunities you’ve set before me to serve.
Serve the world
Bevan
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