Taking It to Work:
To be a “servant” holds very little value in our society, and less in many societies before us. In fact, I’m not sure I know of any cultures where the most esteemed people are the servants, except for the Christian culture. In fact, it seems God’s Word holds servanthood as high as good leadership, even to the point where He emphasizes that our service to others is a service to Him directly.
Now you may have not heard it stated this way before, that at work we get paid to serve, but as disciples of Christ trying to become more like Him, we should serve at work like we are serving the Father Himself, with a much higher motivation than a paycheck could ever bring.
When we do this, and do it from the heart, we separate ourselves from most of the world, and our service becomes not mere work, but an eternal act of worship to a great and wonderful King. A King whom we can be proud to serve, and is proud of us, as we serve Him, as His Word works in us, today.
Matt 25:40 (ESV) – And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.’
1 Sam 12:24 (ESV) – Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
Eph 6:6-8 (ESV) – …not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Matt 23:11-12 (ESV) – The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Man answers man, but the children of the Father answer to the God they serve. It is a great honor, always in time, to be chosen as a servant to a good king. Of highest esteem were these servants held. Men grow proud in service to those they deem greater, and revile serving those they see of low estate. My followers value the Highest King. My true followers do not obey in burden, but in great joy. They serve with abandon and selfless sacrifice. Even as they serve others, without gratitude or notice, it matters not, as they see only Me as they give. Serving only men is not the reach of life; it is the serving to the Father’s Glory that is the goal. Selfless you will become as you draw close to My image. Your focus dims in the mirror, and grows strong in My character. Serve each one as you would serve Me, and I am served, and My Father too is served. Those who do not respond rightly, thankless, already struggle deeply. Do not hold against them what you would not want held against you. Serve Me, and they will be nourished. The true thanksgiving is not theirs to give, nor to them the true service.
