The Bible is thick when it comes to the topic of servanthood. Both the Old and New Testament are filled with stories about being a servant. God designed us to serve, so when we act in this capacity, we’ll reap His benefits. We will experience indescribable joy. We will feel unbelievable freedom. We will gain undeniable love.
Serving others does something in our heart. It reorders our priorities and the way we see ourselves. When we step into a situation where we’re helping another person, we place them before ourselves in humility. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
As followers of Christ, service can become second nature. Matthew 25 tells a story about how we care for Christ and serve Him by serving others.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
Matthew 25:35-40
Serving Results in Love
Ephesians 6:7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
Those who love the Lord, harvest servanthood. It is an outpouring of love for Him. Service is an expression of faith through love.
In John 21, Jesus has a conversation with Simon Peter. He says, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.”
This wasn’t just a call to Simon Peter alone, it’s a command to us all. We can all go out and feed the people Jesus cares for, protects and loves. We can help feed their hungry bellies, their hungry hearts and their hungry desires.
The opposite of serving others is selfish ambition. Selfish ambition is a monster that destroys others in order to elevate one’s self. It’s all about an individual person, leaving a path of destruction and loneliness. This loneliness represents a lack of love for anything other than self.
But, if we’re willing to serve, doors of broken relationships can be healed and renewed. Existing relationships can be strengthened and new ones can blossom and flourish.
Freedom Found in Serving
There is freedom in serving others. Servanthood is a labor of the liberated. Galatians 5:13 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Indulging the flesh is pursuing things that won’t satisfy: materials, success, personal pleasure, money, etc. These pursuits leave us feeling empty and longing for more, leading us to life as a slave to these hollow desires. Aren’t we tired of these endless pursuits? The opposite of enslavement by these fleshly desires is freedom. That liberation comes from setting our own desires aside and placing the good of someone else before us.
Freedom isn’t for the servant alone. Service instills change and healing in the world, therefore those who are being served experience freedom as well. They experience a lack of infliction, even if only for a moment. They experience freedom from their burden, pain and suffering. They find peace and love from the one who is willing to place them before the cross.
Serving Brings Happiness
Those who are really happy are those who learn to serve. Ultimately, we want to be recognized as being God’s servant, not by the tremendous acts we perform, but by our master proclaiming, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21) It’s not our accomplishments that make us truly happy, it’s the overwhelming joy we experience by being with our Lord and Savior for eternity. As we serve Him faithfully, through the service to others, we gain His pleasure as well as our own!
How to Become a Servant
Becoming a servant begins with a simple prayer, “Lord, use me.” A servant isn’t looking for anything to gain, in fact they may lose a lot (especially time). But, a servant is willing to set his or her own agenda aside for the betterment of others and ultimately God’s kingdom. 1 Peter 5: 2-3 says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
It’s also important to recognize that God calls each of us to serve in a specific capacity. He doesn’t intend for us all to serve in the same manner, so we must be willing to serve where He has called us and recognize that His intention for our service may be different than our own. 1 Peter 4:10-11 states, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
How to Serve Others
Serving is simple. It’s the little things that make a big difference in the lives of those we serve and it’s those little things that lead to serving the Lord. The first place to start serving is in our own home, with our friends and in our community. Intentionally look for ways to place someone else before ourselves and we’ll come by that act more naturally over time.
Help your mom make dinner, help your brother with his homework, help your dad by vacuuming the living room. Give your best friend a back massage, help her practice for her upcoming debate team challenge, send her an encouraging card when she’s feeling down. Help your youth pastor by arriving at youth group early to set up, park at the back of the parking lot so you can allow someone else to park closer, bake an extra batch of cookies for your neighbor, and volunteer to babysit for free.
A key to serving is to serve others for who they are, where they are and what they need. Don’t serve out of convenience, nor should we serve in a way that we think will benefit them. We must really understand the person we’re serving and provide love and support in a way that truly provides for them.
Being a servant isn’t easy. In fact, serving others can be very difficult. People have their own agendas and they carry a lot of baggage. We aren’t supposed to take their burdens upon ourselves, instead, we must give them to the Lord. We’re His servant, not our own.
Changing the World
Jesus’ last act was to serve his disciples by washing their feet and serving them the last supper. “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7) We aren’t expected to be Jesus, but through our service we can show His character to others who are in need of a savior.
People may not recognize what we’re doing as servants. But, they will recognize that our approach toward the world is different than what they’re used to. People may not ask why, perhaps they will, but as servants, we impact their life. All it takes is one little act… one little moment… to create a spark in the heart of another person. That spark may or may not lead them to Christ, but it can lead to healing, which is a blessing. So, choose to be a blessing for another person, and by doing so, you aren’t only changing their world – you’re making a difference in God’s kingdom, which cradles the world in which we live.
