SERVITUDE
BY
NICOLE STEINMETZ
DECEMBER 14TH, 2007
What does a Messenger from God, a Prophet, a disciple, a Christian, preacher, an apostle, husbands and wives, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus all have in common? They are all servants or helpers. There are many titles, great or small, that we can call ourselves. Many of us like to have some sort of status or title. The one God holds the highest is servant! Surprising isn’t it? A servant is simply a person that serves another person. So as Christians shouldn’t that be the title we long to carry? Isn’t that what Christ taught us to do, to serve one another in love? How else will we save people? Certainly not by being selfish and fulfilling our own desires. WE save people by serving them, assisting them and by helping them. We serve in all areas of our lives. You can serve at your job, in your marriage, in church, in any and every area or situation in your life. This is how you can begin to learn to serve in all things, and serve with a good attitude.
Jesus tells us the parable of the lost sheep so that we would understand how much he cares for us and how much we should care for others. Jesus is telling us that that God is our shepherd. If one of us wanders off or goes astray He will help us get back to where we need to be, reunited with our herd. We as Christians are to also act like shepherds. We are here to serve God and assist him in getting back as many lost sheep as we can to the heard. Sometimes as Christians we can get so comfortable in our own herds, we can forget about those sheep that wandered off; or we have thought they will find their way back if they want to come back. But as servants of the Lord we should know better. We are Gods helpers and we are here to serve. As believers and Disciples of Christ we look to Jesus to be our shepherd and guide us in which direction to take. Down here on earth we are acting as the shepherds trying to recruit as many lost sheep, or to save as many lost souls as we can. At the end of the parable I just love what Jesus says. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God, than over the ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away.” (Luke 15:7 NLT) If you are among the righteous, that means when you were found all the angels in heaven rejoiced. I was once that lost sinner that needed to be found. I had a group of “shepherds” a wonderful church that loved me and listened to me when I first got saved. If it had not been for there love and prayers I might not have made it. They serve God well, and in doing so helped me stay on the right road, the road to righteousness. In my short journey I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that a lot of times we think we constantly need the rejoicing and to be patted on the back because we've tried and stay “so holy”. The focus should not be on the praises of ourselves but on the praises of others. God is so happy that we are saved, but we should move on and take the next step. Let’s get out there and serve.
When I talk about serving others, who
exactly am I talking about? I’m talking about fellow
Christians, members of our church, our family, our
spouses, our children, people that are not yet
saved, and those that get lost somewhere along the
way. We serve where God calls us to serve. Sometimes
it won’t be easy. Sometimes it will be very hard.
That is why we must serve with humility and with
love. Just like our Savior did! We should strive to
follow his lead. A lot of times our pride can cause
us not to serve the way God would want us to, and we
must be careful of that.
Marriage is a great example of how we should serve. God designed marriage for the purpose of always having someone to help you or assist you in your life. When a husband and a wife are in line with Gods word serving one another becomes second nature. That is because you are serving on another out of love for each other, and out of Gods love for you. When God doesn’t stand in the middle of the marriage, serving becomes difficult for both parties. It can make you feel like serving is a chore or a duty that you didn’t sign up for. It can be done out of habit instead of out of love. The same is true in our relationship with God. If he is not the center of our lives or if he gets put on the back burner, serving Him and others will become a chore. It will start to feel like something you have to do, instead of something you desire to do with all your heart. If you haven’t been serving people in love, try looking at what place God is in your life. Submission to God and submission in relationships is hard for a lot of people. This is where pride gets in the way. Submission in marriage is hard for many couples .A lot of women have heard the scripture, “wives submit to your husbands” and they will defy it or puff up with pride and let there husbands know they wont be telling them what to do. They could also say, “I won’t bow down to him,” or “I’m not his maid, he can clean up his own mess.” It is sad because a lot of people think that is what submission is. When submission is mutual and God is in the relationship and things are done in love, little things like picking up after someone don’t really seem like such a big deal because there done in love. That is why Paul goes on to tell husbands this, “Husbands love your wives and never treat them harshly.” In your marriage or any relationship you may be in you should serve each other. You are a helper to one another.
Now that we are beginning to understand submission and serving in our relationships lets talk about how we should serve people at our job. Are you the boss or the employee? God has a word for both of you. I do understand it can be monotonous doing pretty much the same thing every day. It’s hard to always try and do your best. The Bible tells us that even when our boss isn’t around you should still do your best. In Ephesians Paul writes, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the lord rather than people.” (Ephesians 6:7 NLT) I know that’s hard to do sometimes, but God goes on to give us a word of encouragement, He says, “Remember that the Lord will reward each of us for the good we do whether we are slaves or free!” (Eph. 6:8 NLT) I need to remember this scripture daily when I’m at home with my two girls that are 2 and 4 years old. They are such a handful! God knows it is so hard for me to always do my best. Kids will surely try your patience, but so can adults. So whether your out at your job or at home with your crazy kids try and remember God's faithful Word and always do your best, and if we do mess up there’s always grace. Thank God for grace.
If you’re on the other side and you are the boss, the Bible has an important word for you as well. You should look at yourself as a helper to your employees in a positive way. Just like the Holy Spirit is a helper to us. The Holy Spirits job is to guide us and lead us in truth. You as a boss are there to guide your employees in a positive way, to assist them as a helper does. God was clear on this point so that things would remain this way in harmony. The Bible tells us this “Masters treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same master in heaven, and he has no favorites.” (Eph. 6:9 NLT) So if you have authority over others use that authority wisely, and don’t abuse it. People get so caught up in their titles, but the author Buddy Bell said it very well, “Even Elijah (a great prophet in the old testament) who was a great man of God understood that God does not move on account of ones status, but on behalf of ones service. You cannot impress God with titles, what impresses him are his servants.” (Ministry of Helps Handbook Ph 14) Whatever title you hold whether it is husband, wife, mother, father, friend, boss or employee, make sure you serve with a humble heart. Make sure you serve people in love, the same love that Jesus Christ showed us when he died on the cross for our sins.
God also wants us to serve with a good attitude. If we served with a bad attitude, what reward would there be? Sometimes we have a bad attitude with others because we get so caught up in the small and petty things of this world. Instead, we should focus on the bigger picture and work together as Christians and not against each other. When we work together with a good attitude and live in peace with one another it makes God so happy. The Bible tells us “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude you will please God and others will approve of you too.” (Romans 14 17-18 NLT) That is a big key to how we live our life. If we please God first with a Christ like attitude, then others will approve. So many times we do this backwards and get this confused when trying to serve God, because in our human nature we always seem to seek out everyone else’s approval first. Then we look up and ask God for his last.
I understand how easy it is to only look at right now, but after this life comes the best part. It’s the thing we’ve been serving for; it’s what keeps us going on days when we want to give up all hope. It’s eternity! Its Gods promise to us that if we serve him here he promises us eternal blessedness. In Revelations the Apostle John tells us, “No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.” (Rev. 22:3) This means, no more suffering, no more tears or pain. All of these trials, these tests will be no more. Do your best to serve him, trust him, and rely on him. He’ll get you through whatever it is you’re going through. And he tells us time and time again if we remain faithful he will reward us in this life and our eternal life with him.
The definition of helps is “the act of bearing another’s burden. “ Isn’t that exactly what God does? He helps us. He bears our burdens; he walks with us in love. By his love we can walk in his grace and mercy. He wants us to help each other, to serve each other, to do for one another in love for each other. He wants us to do it with a good attitude, and expect nothing in return. Just simply serve because of our love for him, his love for us, and our love for each other. It has been my experience that the more you do for people; the better it makes you feel inside. I hope that we can all serve a little more than we’re used to. I hope we can look inside our hearts and see how we can do a little more, give a little more and expect less. God’s love and reward will be greater than anything anyone could ever do, give, or say to you. God Bless You.
Bibliography
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible - James Strong, L.L.D., S.T.D.
NIV Study Bible
Ministry of Helps Handbook – Buddy Bell