Luke 22:27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I awoke this morning with my prayers and thoughts on a good friend of mine. When I think of the term “servant”, this is the person I think of. She has the true heart of a servant. She is constantly doing for others. She recognizes a need, and she meets that need. She prepares soup and cookies for the elderly. She gathers up Christmas gifts for the needy. She makes sure that the needs of those she comes in contact with are being met, no matter how big or how small the needs may be. She is literally one of those people who would give the very shirt off of her back to someone in need. Y’all, this girl is awesomeness dipped in awesome sauce! She truly has a servant’s heart. The tables have turned, and for once, we are being given the opportunity to serve her. She is going through a particularly trying time right now, and her sisters in Christ who she has served so graciously and unselfishly through the years are going to be able to do just a tiny little act of service to her. It still pales in comparison to the service that this beautiful soul has provided to our community over the years.
A servant is a person who carries out the will of another, but a faithful servant is one who carries out the will of God. Scripture reveals to us many faithful servants of God. We can read about Abraham, Moses, and David, or Mary, Esther, or Ruth. There is a big difference in being a servant and being a faithful servant of God. A faithful servant is one who is humble. This type of servant doesn’t make a big deal out of what they are doing. They serve without trying to receive glory for their actions. We may never even know the acts of service that were provided by a faithful servant, but God does. A faithful servant is faithful. Well, that sounds like a given, but it is true. A faithful servant shows up. They are there when needed. They don’t make commitments loosely. A faithful servant is available. That is a difficult thing to be in this day and age. It is hard to be available when we are dealing with all of the busyness of life, but when we are being a faithful servant of God, we make ourselves available. A faithful servant gives of his/her precious time, and gives that time freely to others for the glory of God. A faithful servant is someone who is teachable and trainable. We will never know all that we need to know for the glory of God, but when we sign up for His service, we must be willing and able to learn and grown for God’s glory.
We are all called to be faithful servants of God. We may not be called to be the Father of nations like Abraham. We may not be called to rescue God’s people from Egypt as Moses was. We will never be called to be the mother of Jesus. That was reserved for Mary only. We may not be called to save a nation as Esther did. We may not be called to follow the mother of our late husband and live in a foreign land for the glory of God as Ruth did. No, our servanthood will look a lot different, but that doesn’t mean that is is any less important. We must all be faithful in serving God on a daily basis.
Jesus came to serve, to seek, and to save. He walked among others as a true servant. He wasn’t too good for the dirty work either. He even washed the dirt off of the feet of His disciples. He showed us how to live the life of a faithful servant, and it is His desire that we follow in His footsteps. I want to be more like my friend with a faithful servant’s heart, and I really want to be more like Jesus. Being a faithful servant isn’t an obligation that we are charged to do. No, my friends, being a faithful servant is an opportunity to reflect Christ, to show His love to others, and glorify the Father. Serving God isn’t a chore. When we learn to love like Jesus loves, being a faithful servant becomes a passion. Let us get out there today and serve our risen Savior!
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 