SOUNDING OUT:
Serving
The first phrase in the Church Epistles is, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” First we find the name of an individual believer. God knows us by name and desires for a relationship with each of us. He is the God of all the universe, but He still relates to us individually as His children.
The first phrase describing that individual is “servant of Jesus Christ.” “Servant” means “slave.” We were bought and paid for and now belong to God. It cost Him His only begotten son, and we are most precious to Him. What an honor. What a high calling.
Among the most unusual paradoxes in life is that the more one becomes a slave of Jesus Christ, the more freedom one enjoys. This is seen in the Biblical concept of the doulos.
Deuteronomy 15:13-17:
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Slavery practiced in the Bible by the Hebrews was quite different than that which rest of the world practiced. The Hebrew servant was to be released after seven years of service. Not only was he to be released, but he was to be supplied liberally with enough provisions to start his new life with abundance.
The only reason for him to remain and not leave is noted in Deuteronomy 15:16—love. If he so loved the master and his family he could request to remain. The master was not compelled to let him stay either. But if it was hard for the master to send him away, because he was worth two hired servants he could keep him. Keeping him would entail boring the servant’s ear with an aul, and committed the master to provide for him for the rest of his life. This man’s sole purpose was to do the will of his master, knowing that the master would provide whatever he needed to do his work well.
Learning about servanthood is vital to anyone who wants to live the way God has ordained for His family. Not only are we sons of God with the power of holy spirit, part of the royal household of God, but we are servants of Jesus Christ to our fellowman.
Sonship is a wonderful reality. Having a permanent relationship with God as a son sets us apart from the world. Part of the reason for our sanctification is found in the opportunity to serve. We are sanctified to serve. Even Jesus, the only begotten son of God came to serve—not to be served.
Mark 10:45:
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
That’s the genuine heart of a servant—to minister and not to be ministered unto. If that lifestyle was appropriate for our lord and savior, perhaps it’s appropriate for us, too. Indeed we are encouraged to follow his example.
Philippians 2:5-8:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Humble and obedient—what a lifestyle! The truth makes us free. Running the servant’s course is important to us all.
Over the next 13 weeks I plan on working through Improving Your Serve, by Charles Swindoll. I want to invite you to join me if you like and read a chapter a week. You should be able to acquire the book at most Christian bookstores or on line at Christianbook.com. I’d be blessed to receive any comments you have to share. Perhaps some of them will find their way into the newsletter.
As we go through Swindoll’s book I will also be reading and studying Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. It, too, is packing with great truth regarding the joy of serving. Although our first responsibility is to know God as our loving heavenly Father, the steps to servanthood should follow rather quickly in our Christian walk. I anticipate great learning practically and doctrinally as we move into the next 13 weeks. God bless you. |
