Introduction:
A. Do you like to ask kids what they want to be when they grow up? I do.
1. Unlike the minion in the picture, I don’t ask them because I am still looking for ideas!
2. I like to ask them to see what is going on in their little heads.
3. This picture on the screen is a good representation of the most common responses that children give to the question: what do you want to be when you grow up?
4. Notice their answers: Engineer, pilot, doctor, scientist, teacher, lawyer, writer, astronaut, veterinarian, athlete and actress.
5. One little boy said that he wanted to be a car mechanic or a garbage collector.
a. When asked why, he gave a classic boy answer: “So I can get dirty!”
6. What was your answer as a child? When I was little, I wanted to grow up to be a policeman.
B. Let’s take that same question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and ask it another way.
1. Let’s imagine asking Jesus what He wants us to be when we grow up.
2. Suddenly, that changes everything right? Suddenly, it is a whole new question.
3. I can imagine Jesus answering, “I want you to grow up to be different. I want you to be a servant.”
4. We could interview thousands of children, and I don’t think we would ever hear any of them ever say that they want to grow up to be a servant.
5. And yet that is what God wants for each one of us – God wants us to become a servant like Jesus was a servant.
C. As we continue in our sermon series “Serving Like Jesus,” I want us to spend today’s sermon and next week’s sermon talking about the portrait of a servant.
1. Just what does a servant look like? What character traits form the profile of a servant?
2. I want us to turn to the Sermon on the Mount to try to answer those questions.
3. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, we see that Jesus’ main point was: Be Different!
4. Over and over again, throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the way things were among the religious types of His day, and then He instructed them to be different.
5. The formula went like this: “You have heard it said…but I say to you…”
6. In the first section of the Sermon on the Mount, certainly the most familiar section to most people, we find the Beatitudes.
7. I want us to see how these Beatitudes form the most descriptive word-portrait of a servant that is available to us.
D. Look with me at Jesus’ words: (Matthew 5:3-10)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
E. Let’s make three general observations about these statements of Jesus.
1. First, these are eight character traits that identify true servanthood.
a. When all eight are brought into a person’s life, a spiritual balance emerges.
b. This list is not meant to be a “cafeteria style, multiple choice” list where we are free to pick and choose our favorites.
1. “I’ll take a little pure in heart and peacemaker, but I don’t want any poor in spirit or persecution, thank you.”
c. Rather, Jesus, our Savior and our example, has listed those qualities that lead to the different lifestyle that characterizes God’s kingdom and pleases God.
2. Second, these traits open the door to inner happiness and joy.
a. These attitudes, when pursued and embodied, result in true satisfaction.
b. This lifestyle offers fulfillment like nothing else on earth.
c. Each of the characteristics begin with the word “blessed,” which could also be translated “happy” or “how happy.”
d. This is the only time that Jesus repeated the same term eight times consecutively.
e. Those people who develop these attitudes find lasting happiness and joy.
3. Third, and finally, we notice that attached to each character trait is a corresponding promise.
a. Each characteristic leads to a promised blessing and what wonderful promises they are!
F. With that introduction in mind, let’s begin our investigation of each of the characteristics.
a. Rather than rush through all eight in a superficial manner in one sermon, let’s break them into two groups of four.
b. We will explore the first four in today’s sermon and save the second four for next week.
I. A Servant is Poor in Spirit.
A. At first glance, some people mistakenly think Jesus is saying, “Blessed are the poor.”
1. It is true that Luke’s version of this beatitude does focus on the poor and the rich, but that was a different sermon given in a different location to a different audience
2. But here in Matthew, we see that Jesus’ focus is directed at the spiritual aspects of the heart, so Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
3. Commentator William Barclay clarified things when he wrote: These words in Hebrew underwent a four-stage development of meaning. (i) They began by meaning simply poor. (ii) They went on to mean, because poor, therefore having no influence or power, or help or prestige. (iii) They went on to mean, because having no influence, therefore down-trodden and oppressed by men. (iv) Finally, they came to describe the man who, because he has no earthly resources whatever, put his whole trust in God. So, in Hebrew the word “poor” was used to describe the humble and the helpless man who put his whole trust in God.
B. So, being poor in spirit is an attitude of absolute humility and trust.
1. That is certainly a good place to start to paint the portrait of a servant.
2. A servant is a person who sees themselves as spiritually bankrupt, deserving of nothing, who then turns to Almighty God in total trust.
3. There is an old, familiar hymn that very well expresses those feelings and thoughts:
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Vile, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4. When I think of this character trait, I think of the story that Jesus told of the Pharisee and the Publican.
a. The one man was so proud, and the other was so humble.
b. The one man had no awareness of his own sinfulness, and the other was so keenly aware.
c. The one failed to ask God for mercy and therefore received none, the other asked for God’s mercy and received it.
5. This spirit of humility is very rare in our day of strong-willed, proud-as-a-peacock attitudes.
6. This is why we are called to be different – we are called to be servants with humble hearts.
C. Jesus gave a special promise that goes with the trait of spiritual helplessness…“for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
1. The necessary and required condition for receiving a part in the kingdom of heaven is acknowledging our spiritual poverty.
2. The person who is poor in spirit, is like a child who trusts completely in his or her parent’s provision and is promised a place in Christ’s kingdom.
3. But that place in the kingdom is not earned, but is granted to the authentic servant who has a deep and abiding dependency on the Lord.
II. A Servant Mourns
A. Jesus chose a strong term when He said, “Blessed are they that mourn.”
1. It is a heavy word – a passionate lament for one who was loved with profound devotion.
2. The word conveys the sorrow of a broken heart, the ache of soul, the anguished mind.
3. The mourning that Jesus was talking about could include a number of things:
a. Mourning over wrong in the world.
b. Mourning over personal loss.
c. Mourning over one’s own sinfulness.
d. Mourning over the death of someone close.
4. Interestingly, this particular term also includes compassion – a sincere caring for others.
a. Perhaps a good paraphrase would read: “How happy are those who feel their own hurts, sorrows and losses, and care intensely for the hurts, sorrows, and losses of others.”
b. Scripture commands that we mourn with those who mourn. (Rom. 12:15)
c. Peter summarized it well when he wrote: Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (1 Pet. 3:8)
B. Because a true servant knows what it is to mourn and have sorrow, they have compassion upon others who are suffering.
1. How sad it is that people can see someone hurting or in need and not have a heart to help.
2. Charles Swindoll tells the story of a member of his church who fell in the shower and broke the glass shower door in the process and was seriously cut.
a. An ambulance rushed to the house, loaded him up and raced him to the hospital.
b. Thankfully, his life was saved and he fully recovered.
c. The man’s wife shared the sad news that not a single neighbor took notice.
d. No one even looked out their door or came over to see if they could help, not at the time the accident happened nor later.
3. When I think of this trait of mourning, I think of Jesus’ amazing story of the Good Samarian.
a. How sad it is to think of the people who passed by the man in need.
b. But how wonderful to think of the man who stopped and helped.
c. The helpful man went above and beyond the call of duty - he was a servant who mourned and showed compassion!
4. That kind of love and compassion only comes when someone has been through it and understands what it feels like to be in that situation.
5. That’s why I love the passage in Hebrews that says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin” (Heb. 4:15).
a. Jesus has been through everything, and therefore, He can sympathize with our struggles.
6. During Jesus’ ministry, we clearly see how compassionate Jesus was.
a. Whether it was someone suffering from leprosy, or demon possession, or someone who was hungry, Jesus cared and He did something about the person’s need.
b. Then there was that time that Jesus came upon a funeral procession and the Bible says: Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don't cry.” Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. (Luke 7:11-15)
7. True servants are like their Lord, they know how to mourn and they are filled with compassion.
C. And what is the promise for those who mourn? Jesus says that they will be comforted.
1. It is interesting that there is no mention of the source or channel of the comfort, but only that it will come.
2. Perhaps it will come from God Himself, or on the other hand, it may come from people who have received the comfort and compassion they have received in the past.
3. Thus far, we’ve explored two attitudes in true servants – humble dependence and caring compassion, but there are more.
III. A Servant is Meek
A. When we hear the word “meek,” we often get a false impression that causes a negative reaction.
1. We think this passage means, “Blessed are the weak for they shall become doormats.”
2. In our rough-and-rugged individualism, we think of meekness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless.
3. But that is not what Jesus means at all.
4. The Greek term Jesus used for meek is extremely colorful.
a. It conveys the meaning of gentleness and having strength under control – like a powerful horse that has been broken and trained.
b. It can be used of the person who remains calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere.
c. It carries the idea of someone who possesses tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.
5. We might paraphrase it: “Blessed are the gentle, or blessed are the kind.”
6. Jesus certainly exhibited this character trait and spoke of himself as “gentle and humble:” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt. 11:28-29)
7. Meekness, gentleness, and kindness are important characteristics that enable God’s servants to serve others more effectively.
B. And what is the promise that goes with meekness? They shall inherit the earth.
1. Rather than the meek being pushed around, I believe that they ultimately win out in this life.
2. Instead of losing, the gentle and kind gain and win.
3. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, in the end, they come out ahead.
4. It is the meek and gentle and kind who are highly respected and are relationally more effective.
5. If the meek and gentle servants of God will put their trust in God, then God will guarantee that in the end they will be provided for.
6. Look at how David described that reality in Psalm 37:7-11: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
7. The ultimate victory will not be won by the wicked, rather the gentle will be the winners.
8. True servants are meek and gentle, they are different from the world, and God will keep His promise to them.
The final characteristic in our portrait of a servant is:
IV. A Servant is Hungry and Thirsty for Righteousness
A. The true servant possesses an insatiable appetite for what is right – they have a passionate drive for holiness and for justice.
1. We tend to use the terms “hunger and thirst” rather lightly.
a. We say things like “I’m starving!” or “I’m so thirsty, I could die!”
b. Yet, few of us have really known extreme hunger and thirst.
2. Hunger and thirst are healthy appetites, which bring joy and satisfaction when they are met, but they bring pain and suffering when they are not met.
3. Can we honestly say that we hunger and thirst for righteousness?
a. This is a characteristic that God wants us to develop and be driven by, but it doesn’t come naturally or automatically.
4. Do we understand that God expects that His real servants will be engaged in a pursuit of God’s holiness and righteousness?
a. But do we also understand that this includes not just looking upward toward God, but also includes pursing a vertical holiness toward others?
b. Being a servant with righteousness means that we long for and pursue holiness and justice on the earth.
5. Look at this criticism that Jesus leveled against the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
a. The Pharisees were pursing one part of holiness (the part directed toward God - giving a tenth), but they weren’t pursing vertical aspects of holiness towards others (justice and mercy toward others).
b. In God’s mind, the giving of a tenth was not as important as justice and mercy, but both were called for.
c. The point is not to do one at the exclusion of the other, but to do them both.
6. The servant of God is hungry and thirsty to achieve all the righteousness that God desires.
a. That includes a close, obedient walk with God personally – a godly and holy life.
b. And that includes a caring, compassionate treatment of others with real justice.
B. If we are hungry and thirsty for all of the righteousness that God desires, then God promises that we will be satisfied.
1. A.T. Robertson, a Greek scholar of yesteryear, suggests the term satisfied is commonly used for feeding and fattening cattle, since it is derived from the term for fodder or grass.
2. How about that for a picture of contentment?
a. If we will hunger and thirst for righteousness, then we will be contented in our soul like satisfied, well-fed livestock!
4. A servant with an appetite for righteousness will be filled – That’s God’s promise!
5. Normally, we would think that such an insatiable pursuit would make someone so intense that there would be only fretfulness and frustration, but that is not the case with an appetite for righteousness, Jesus promises to bring a satisfaction to such hungry and thirsty souls.
Conclusion:
A. Well, we are only halfway through drawing a portrait of a servant, but this is a good place to stop and review what the picture looks like so far.
1. Let’s keep in mind that Jesus was describing how we can be His unique servants and stand out as different from the world we live in.
2. God honors these character traits and offers special rewards for each.
B. The portrait of a servant looks like this:
1. A servant is poor in spirit; meaning they genuinely humble and absolutely dependent on God.
2. A servant is one who mourns and feels compassion toward the needy and hurting.
3. A servant is meek and gentle; a person who is strong inside and yet controlled on the outside.
4. A servant has a passionate appetite for righteousness in their own lives and justice and mercy in the world.
5. When we put these four characteristics together, we see the portrait of someone who humbly serves with God’s strength, a servant who shows compassion, gentleness, kindness, and a servant who puts effort into bringing justice and mercy to others.
C. So, what do we want to be when we grow up? Hopefully, each of us wants to be a servant of God.
1. Let’s ask ourselves how well we are doing in living up to this portrait of a servant.
2. Which of these character traits do each of us need to work on and ask for God’s help with?
3. Let’s concentrate on becoming like this portrait of a servant and in the end we will be blessed and be happy that we did!
Resources:
Improving Your Serve, Charles Swindoll, Word, Inc., 1981, Chapter 7.
Beatitudes (Part I), Sermon by Danny Pinksen, SermonCentral.com
