"Our Identity In Christ (V): We Are Servants Of God”

We have learned our four identities in Christ. Today I will share the fifth and the last one, which is we are servants of God. Many Christians think servants of God are Christians who receive special calls from God to carry certain missions whether to be missionaries, pastors, or teachers. Is that true? Let us see what the Bible says about this.

I. What does it mean to be a servant of God?

“Servant” is a translation of the Greek word “doulos,” which means more literally “a slave or bondservant, someone who sets aside all rights of his own to serve another.” Because the word slave carries such a negative connotation to our modern sensitivities, we often choose the word servant instead. However, servant does not quite capture the real meaning of “doulos.” So, when you read the word ‘servant’ in the Bible, remember, the word means “slave.”

In ancient times, slaves were purchased or born into a slave family and served the master until they died or until the master decided to free them. Some slaves developed such a close and loving relationship with the master’s family that they wanted to continue serving, even when they could go free.

2. Who are servants of God?

In the Old Testament, God called Moses, Joshua, and the prophets His servants. Let us read Joshua 1:1-2 – “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.” Joshua 24:29 – “Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old.” Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

In many places in the New Testament, the apostle Paul refers to himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ” (e.g., Romans 1:1; Colossians 4:12; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:6). The Lord’s half-brother Jude also refers to himself in the same way (Jude 1:1). Rather than emphasizing his close relationship to Jesus, Jude referred to himself to the status of a servant. That is the idea Paul and Jude were conveying when they referred to themselves as servants of Christ.

But in Romans 6:22, Paul explains that every Christian who has been bought by Christ becomes a slave of God, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” We actually never be free man/woman! Before we knew Christ, we were the slaves of sin, we were owned by Satan who wanted to destroy our lives. But now, we have a wonderful Master who loves us so much. In 1 Corinthians 7:22, Paul also says, “For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ's slave.” Peter says in 1 Peter 2:15-16, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.” So, according to the Bible, all believers, not only pastors, missionaries, and teachers are servants of God or Christ! The Lord has bought us with a high price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and those who come to know Him desire to abandon all rights to Him and choose to serve Him faithfully. A servant of God is part of God’s household, and he works to serve his master.

Being servants of God is more than being volunteers at church. Doug Sarver beautifully says, “Volunteers raise their hand to be called on. Servants are called by the Hand of God. Volunteers do work for God. Servants do work with God. Volunteers get tired of the work; Servants are tired in the work. Volunteers pray their work will succeed. Servants succeed as they pray for their work. Volunteers serve from their commitment. Servants serve in their surrender. Volunteers come and go as they please. Servants are pleased to come and stay. Volunteers are faced with ministry problems. Servants are faced with ministry opportunities. Volunteers teach the Bible Story to others. Servants are the Living Bible Story to others. Volunteers want to be led in ministry. Servants lead in ministry. Volunteers love the Ministry. Servants love Jesus in the ministry. Volunteers serve under their supervisor. Servants serve God alone. Volunteers see their ministry as small. Servants see the world as their ministry. Volunteers say, “This is the Day the Lord has made?” Servants say, “This is the Day the Lord has made!!” Volunteers are excited when they succeed. Servants are excited to make others succeed.” (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/66910/servanthood-by-john-shearhart)