Make Me a Servant
Purpose Driven Life #33
Montreal/Cornwall
April 24, 2004
God is looking for a few good people that He can depend on to be involved in the work of His family. He, however, is not looking like others, here on earth, might be looking. God is looking for servants.
We have been discussing our shape, and using our shape is tied to Christ’s standard of greatness.
Mk.10.43- Christ focuses on being a servant. This involves a radically different definition for leadership than the world, or churches, even, have historically. Consider again what I’ve spoken of a few times of late. When Christianity became the accepted faith of the imperial Roman Empire, the empire shaped Christendom. Theology was molded to fit the model of the empire. This began with Constantine and continued until now, although the impact of this has been lessening over the past couple of hundred years as Christendom has begun to die. There’s a painting by Giotto di Bondone of Pope Innocent III meeting with Saint Francis of Assisi. In this painting is represented the poor man of God, Francis, before the greatest ecclesiastic and political power of the day This occurred early in the 1200s. Francis appeared in a plain brown robe, standing with a small band of similarly robed men, all of them in an attitude of awe, before the great Innocent. Francis better represented the way Jesus wanted, but the way of the empire, evident in the church, and as evident in Innocent, is what prevailed. The church exercised authority much as the Empire did, and was organized much as the Empire was organized. However, this is not what Jesus taught, and not what Jesus teaches today.
Greatness is a result of the number of people we get to serve not the number of people who are serving any one of us. I’ve noticed, over the last few years, that even in our midst, some of us have begun to use the term "servant-leadership" to depict some understanding of the focus we need to have in our lives. However, it only goes partway, because that word ’leadership’ is still there. We need to go all the way and speak only of ’servant’ and ’service’. Let’s not tie the two together anymore and, thus, cloud, or muddy, the waters of understanding- of radical understanding- that Jesus calls on us to evidence.
Without question, as you understand your shape better, it will lead to areas of service that are best fitted to you and where you really are effective. This will be your area of primary service. But, do not allow yourself to think that this is where service must stop, or that these are the only areas for service. Beyond those, service has to do with whatever needs doing, and this does not depend on your shape, but simply on your being Christ-minded. Over the years, I’ve had great difficulty when I’ve seen ministers who wouldn’t ’stoop’ to moving chairs or tables, or sweeping floors, and the like; to me, these activities have always been inherent in understanding servanthood. Oh, it’s nice to think that some tasks are ’beneath’ us, or that we’re ’too busy’ to do the mundane, but the servant has no ’mundane’ or ’beneath’, as Jesus exemplified.
Today, I’d like to outline several keys to a servant’s heart- to having it and exhibiting one. You and I are to be servants- this is how we’re judged as great. Jesus sets the standard and we must not permit anyone to take away this matter of Jesus’ teaching and truth.
1. As a servant, be available to serve. What needs to be done? Then do it.
2 Ti.2.4- as you’re going along in life, sometimes something gets in the way- it can be a phone call, or an opportunity to do something for someone. Get used to looking at these as ’divine interruptions’. God is involved in your life and He wants you to get used to putting others’ needs in the proper place. Serving is rarely convenient and it’s not always glorious, but it needs to be done. In our western world, and church, we’ve become very used to thinking like the empire- to thinking in terms of ourselves and justifying working incessantly, to being sure that we’re not late because of serving someone else, and the like. Make yourself available.
We have some needs right now. We need more adults to become screened so we can have 2 adults sitting in each Children’s Ministry class. In addition, we need a teacher for the little children (Montreal). Is no one available? Is there anyone who will make himself or herself available to serve in this way? Let us not just think of our own needs, but let’s think of putting ourselves into active serving. Maybe you’ve never done anything like this- we can train you and will support and back you up. It’s not for everyone, but it might be for you. Listen to the voice in your heart on this.
A servant is available to serve.
2. As a servant, pay attention to the needs around you. Watch out for the needs of others.
In Squaw Valley, some years ago, and this has become somewhat of a legend for me, but I heard it from someone in the organization so know it happened. There were 10,000 people together for one of our giant church conventions, and a toilet, in the men’s washroom, was plugged. Some servant rolled up his sleeves and cleaned it out, thus serving many other people- what sensitivity to the needs around him, in this case.
Ga.6.10- God gives opportunities for servanthood. He gives the opportunities to do good.
Last Saturday, several of us went over to Granny Nye to celebrate her upcoming 98th birthday. However, I’m asking, ’where were you?’ As a pastor, I have to consider the state of the flock and I know that not everyone can be everywhere. However, how many of you missed the incredible joy of seeing her joy and serving someone who won’t be with us forever- although she seems to go on like the Energizer Bunny! Many of you missed an opportunity to serve, and you must understand it in this context. Yes, you might not have been there for a long time- but some of her family came, too, and would have enjoyed meeting more of you about whom she likely talks. Don’t pass by opportunities to serve.
John Wesley had as his motto, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." Wow! Does that represent any of us, yet?
3. As a servant, do the best you can with what you have. Do, don’t wait. It’s better to do, and to try, than to wait for being perfect, or for the perfect opportunity. You ARE good enough to serve- you don’t have to be perfect.
Eccl.11.4. Excellence is fine- we all enjoy excellence, and when we can have it, it’s an incredible blessing. However, Jesus never said we had to be excellent. Jesus said to serve. He told us to get out there and to be doing. The only way to get better at any area of serving is to start less well. And you’ll get better. Your first hospitality might not be great, but you’ll improve. Your first time helping in a particular area might not be good, but it will get better with practice. Do the best you can with what you’ve been given to do with.
4. As a servant, do all serving tasks with equal dedication. The mundane is part of life. Doing dishes, watching children, and the like, are part of life.
Ga.6.3. Jesus did the menial. Jesus washed feet. Jesus fed people. Jesus made tables and benches. Jesus cooked fish on the beach to give breakfast to his friends. Jesus was not above the mundane and the menial. There is no task that is beneath you or me. I can sweep or vacuum after church or a social as much as anyone else.
We must not look only for great tasks. We’re coming to an interesting problem in our camp planning right now. We’re getting people who want to come to camp to help, but they want to say where they will or won’t serve. We’re getting adults telling us that older youth won’t continue to come unless they get to work in particular areas. These ideas do not reflect the servant heart, and we won’t have less than the servant’s heart for any opportunity at camp. We don’t need it- that would only destroy what God is doing in the camp environment. We must learn the servant’s heart. We must learn to be faithful in the mundane and the lesser before we can expect anything else.
Remember that Mrs. Zebedee came to Jesus and asked for greatness for her sons. Jesus pointed out that this attitude was not the right one and this question was not the right one to ask.
Sometimes people get into a way of thinking of entitlement or personal greatness. People think that because they have this credential or that degree, that they should be doing such and such. A servant does not lean on credentials, courses, degrees, and the like, but simply on serving. Don’t think that because of something you’ve done that you’ve earned or that you deserve certain positions in the church, camp, or the Kingdom of God. Do everything you get to do and do it all with equal dedication.
5. As a servant, be faithful. Faithfulness is not highly valued today. Commitment is not something people can be depended on. We are seeing, even in the church, some of the idea of being willing to do something ’unless something better or more fun comes along’. We need to- we must- fight this insidious invasion of our church. It’s important to count the cost before making any commitment. It’s important to go forward letting your word be sure- being bound by your word- letting your ’yes be yes’. Can people count on you?
6. As a servant, have a low profile. Do not be self-promoting. Again, don’t think you’re someone because of certain credentials or even ordination. I’ve heard people pray, over the years, to the effect, ’because you’ve put me in this office, etc., then hear and respond in such and such a way’. Please, do not let such arrogance or abuse ever occur here or continue in our church at any time. Let humility reign. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix.
Matt.6.1; Ga.1.10
Don’t seek the limelight. Don’t seek to be noticed.
1 Cor.15.58; Matt.10.42
Conclusion
Servanthood is not an easy road. Jesus never said it would be. However, he did make great promises about the end of that life. I, for one, believe very much in the benefits of that way of life now, though, too. It’s fun being in a serving role- I highly recommend this way of life. Make me a servant is a great prayer for each of us. God is at work in us and this is what he is forming in you- a servant as Jesus was and is a servant.
