When you think of serving, what comes to mind? No I’m not talking about being a waiter, but I am talking about serving others. We each have in our minds as Christians what a 'servant’ is suppose to be. The Good Samartian is a great example, where finally a Samaritan man came along and found this beaten and helpless man along the road and not only did he help him, the next day he took money gave to the innkeeper and asked to take care of him. This is definitely a ‘large’ scale work of a servant right.
What we tend to think as to be a servant, is to think BIG SCALE. Large edaphus, big deals, great power to demonstrate, etc… But honestly friends being a servant comes in ALL shapes and sizes. The Samaritan saved a man along the road, Jesus healed so many people and some of them he even did without an audience. No one was around to witness it! Servanthood has many forms and constructs, but what I want to talk about today is ‘What it takes to serve’.
Regardless of your viewpoint on what your time and energy is to be focused on, if you hellp feeding the hungry, do prayer healing, help building houses, help with the church bulletin every week, visit the sick and lonely, create an mechanism to help children to keep seeking Christ, send out cards for parishioners in the mail, do regular church repairs, keeping church safe and clean with this COVID-19, what ever it is, to serve has to be accompanied with sacrifices. Yes, I did say sacrifices!
One of first things we must do is to define our identity!
A young man that was new to the Job, came into work for the first time. Following his boss’s instructions to the letter, he gave full attention to his duty and truly wanted to keep this job. When he originally accepted the job the title of the position was “Mechanical Engineer” which he thought was right down his alley. When he was directed to the location on the premises where he was to do his work, there was a sea of computer boards, micro-processors, miles of wires and so much more. Suddenly his jaw dropped and he started to sweat. He tried to talk but the words just couldn’t come out. The supervisor asked him “whats wrong”, “Well” the man said “I didn’t realize I would be working on this type of stuff.” “What do you mean?” the boss asked. “Well I only worked on Truck Engines at the local Peter-bilt company.” You see, this man literally thought Mechanical Engineering meant he would be working Mechanicaly on Truck engines (Mechanical Engineering). First thing comes to my mind here is I would have questioned the Job Interview process.
The identity of the man’s job was not clear and even mis-interpreted. He needed to know for certain what he was going to be and do. To be a server we must know whom we serve and to whom we are to serve. Yes, to all Gods people is an excellent answer.
In Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shows us a glimpse of knowing his identity and ours. Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that I, the son of man, am? Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus ask’s “But who do you say that I am?”
You see, here Jesus needed to ensure his disciples know who he is to them, in their lives, in their minds, in their heart. With doubtful questions like that, we have no solid rock foundation to stand on. When we serve, we serve with the knowledge that God has given to us, not what ‘WE’ accomplished.
So we need to know our Identity in Christ in order to Serve. Whom do we REALLY SERVE!
We also must move beyond debating where something is wrong or right, instead, is our actions in line with his will? You see, being a servant comes with its responsibilities and even risks sometimes, that wants to seek and grow not only as good servants, but being Christ Like! Paul continues on to tell us “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable nor all things edify.” He continues to say “What ever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I could have titled this sermon Why to become a servant, but I felt lead to this title.
What our interests are, should not be solely based on what we want or even feel, but what I have to offer in line with Gods Will.
Paul tells us in Romans “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.”
Oh wow, now we added gifts with serving. Gifts of the spirit is definitely a must in being a servant. Why? Why is that even needed? Can I just do what I feel like doing something good?
At a local college in a undisclosed location, a young sophomore women all the while questioning her faith. Very close friends of hers brought to her attention “You might not talk the talk, but you certainly walk the walk.” Not fully comprehending the statement and seemingly knowing nothing about Christianity, she eventually seen through the statements of others that although her values, thoughts and actions was not just portraying a servant but from a Christian perspective. So to this young lady, she did not identify herself as a Christian, she didn’t know where she actually stood while just going through the motions of being a servant. This lady did miss one of many benefits of being a servant, even though she had done servant hood duties, her identity wasn’t defined so she was working without a cause. Notice here also that during her life, she ‘Questioned her faith’ even though, others saw her doing good things. But she did not see it that way! Her identity was not defined, and the Gifts she had was not known to her, although others saw some. We don’t know if the others was Christian or not.
Another method we tend to see is how God uses unbelivers to do his will.
There once was a man that had a very hard and stubborn heart. One day he overheard a older couple in a grocery line telling the cashier they didn’t have the money for certain things and that God will provide for them. Well aggravated even more, the man swiftly got out of the line, went back to the isle’s for the items the older couple needed. Exiting the grocery store he came up to them and said “Here.” They asked “What is this”, and he went on saying, “I overheard you going on and on about how God would provide you with what you need, but I got this to prove he doesn’t work that way.” The couple looked at him with a big smile and said “Oh yes he does, he just did with you!” Now the man was furious and stormed away to his car and drove off.
Hard truth and facts can feel very brutal can’t they? Even though there is many examples I can give including many in the bible, there is massive benefits in being a servant, not to mention doing God’s will comes with its own rewards.
Example, when barnabas went abroad, people’s faces lit up so to speak. His servant hood gave inspiration, hope, love, joy, peace, etc… not of his making, but of what God gave. As a servant we not only lean on the Words of God, but our actions of faith to lead others. Being a servant truly is the most commendable virtue to have. Just as Christ tells us he came to ‘serve’ not to be ‘served’. Our actions both good and bad, can have an impact on others in ways we may never know. Truth be told, when we go out and be a shinning example of Christ, strangers look and see just like we do. They evaluate and judge just like we do. They observe and remember just like we do. We have something others do not have, and that’s Hope.
In closing, let me say that as servants, Paul tells us in Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Yes those household of faith, this means your church family, your friends, even those that are considered strangers.
All church’s consist of one Body, as scripture says, “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.” We must exercise our duty to help our church in ways we may not have done before. If there is need in the church and its in God’s will with your gift to help with, Go Forth! The church needs each of us to do our part in keeping the health and stability by being a servant. Remember friends, nothing gets done without servanthood. Otherwise its just an idea or thought, but no matter the challenge or task, God will provide a way, strength, courage, faith as we need.
I ask each of you today, to pray to the Lord, asking him “Lord, what gifts do I have that I can use to be a servant to you and your kingdom.” Seek out the areas of your lives that and it may take words of advice from fellow Christians, leadership or whom ever God has placed before you in order to help you see the light. Now some of you may think “I don’t have anything to give”, or “I am too old and have no energy.” Friends, God has and continue to uses EVERYONE while they are still alive to do his will for all mankind, including the Body of Christ, his church. And when we meet the Lord some wonderful day, let us have eagerness to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!