"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Php 2:1-8 KJV
Definition of servant: One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper. (Webster 1913)
1. One who is privately employed to perform domestic services.
2. One who is publicly employed to perform services, as for a government.
3. One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another: (Free Dictionary Online)
In a world where the mantra is "Every man for himself and the Devil take the hindmost" it is difficult to understand the concept of servanthood as exemplified in th Scriptures. Servanthood as exemplified by Christ demonstrates a concept of servanthood that is foreign to the majority of the modern world. Yet it is this same concept of servanthood that God expects to be manifested in us and demonstrated by us. He says, "Let this mind be in you..."
What mind?
1. A mind of love and accord. Php 2:2
2. A mind absent of self conceit and contention Php 2:3
3. A mind of modesty and humbleness Php 2:3
4. A mind that empowers the brethren and seek after their good Php 2:4
Looking at the attitude and response of Jesus while on earth as a human gives us a very clear picture of what God expects of us as servants. And He says, "Let this mind be in you...!!!"
It's why we are exhorted later on to... "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." Php 2:14-16 KJV
Therefore do what you are required to do without grumbling, complaining, or debate! In so doing you do it as unto the Lord and not unto man! Do not make an issue of it. Just do it!
Remember...
1. SERVANTS DO NOT EXHIBIT A SUPERIOR AND HAUGHTY ATTITUDE
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luk 17:7-10 KJV
2. SERVANTS WHO THINK HIGHLY OF THEMSELVES ARE LIKE TARES AMONG THE WHEAT!
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Mat 13:24-30 KJV
They both sprang up together but the tares were only noticeable after they began producing fruit remaining proudly stuck up with their poisonous fruit while the genuine was bowed down with beautiful,beneficial fruit.
3. SERVANTS ASK "LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO?"...AND THEN DO IT!
"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Act 9:1-6 KJV
4. SERVANTS STOP CRYING "GIVE ME" AND INSTEAD SAY "MAKE ME"
"And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." Luk 15:11-19 KJV
The world today has an intensified grasping attitude. It is a constant… I want, Give me, Mine! Mine! Mine! The Bible says that "The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough." Pro 30:15-16 KJV This description fits the modern generation and this attitude is nurtured and exploited by the world system. It has marched boldly into the church and taken control of many pulpits creating a hunger not for the things of God but for the materialism of the world under the guise of God's Blessing. It has a million and one, plus half as much again spouting the benefits of “leadership” and “being in charge” so that everyone wants to lead but no one is willing to serve.
Jesus said if you want to lead and be a chief then be willing first to serve and actually serve!
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mat 20:25-28 KJV
Jesus warned against giving yourself titles and airs to distinguish yourself from the “common masses”!
"Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Mat 23:1-12 KJV
Jesus was always and forever an example of what it means to serve. Can you even begin to grasp the incomprehensible? The eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God actually limiting Himself to become a servant to his messed–up creatures? Yet He DID!
"Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Joh 13:3-17 KJV
Paul had no affectations! He knew what it meant to be a servant to the end of his earthly life.
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." 1Co 9:19-23 KJV
He is able to instruct Timothy because of His example!
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2Ti 2:24-26 KJV
5. SERVANTS WILL BE REWARDED FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS.
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mat 24:45-51 KJV
How do we stack up as servants of God today?
Remember that we as servants of the Messiah have a job to do based on His commands and not our likes and dislikes. We do what we do to glorify Him and not ourselves. We serve diligently keeping in that it is Him we are trying to please. It is not our concern about what the other man will do. Our duty is to follow Him! "Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? FOLLOW THOU ME." John 21:21-22 KJV
