Servanthood

In a world where self promotion and name recognition is the key to success; we find in Scripture a stark contrast! The Word of God blasts a clear call to self-abasement, humility, and servanthood!

In Matthew 20 we find the mother of Zebedee’s sons coming to Jesus to secure a place of greatness for her sons, that one may sit on His right hand and the other on His left hand in His kingdom. In contrast, what she and her sons, James and John, along with the rest of the disciples received was a lesson on servanthood! Jesus replied with these words, “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave”. Position in the kingdom cannot be lobbied for or even earned, but is appointed by the will of the Father. We are not to seek a position, but to serve a Person – the Lord Jesus Christ. By extension our service to the Lord Jesus will be revealed in our service to others!

The word translated “slave” here in verse 27 is “doulos” meaning one who gives himself up to another’s will; one who is devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. The pursuit of the Christian is not to be one of status but of lowliness, not of loftiness but of humility, given over to the will of the Father and the service of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

I was refreshingly reminded of this life of servanthood a few weeks ago while reading Roy Hession’s, The Calvary Road. In his chapter entitled, “Are You Willing to be a Servant?” He points out five marks of the servant revealed in Luke 17:7-10. I would like to point out four of them. 1. He must be willing to have one thing on top of another put upon him, without any consideration being given him. How completely the servant labors for and serves his master before ever thinking of himself. 2. In doing this he must be willing not to be thanked for it. How often we serve others, but when there is no gratitude or thanks we wallow in self-pity that we are not appreciated. 3. He must confess that he is an unprofitable servant. That is, that we are truly useless to God and man in ourselves. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” Rom. 7:18. If we do serve faithfully it is no thanks to us, but to the Lord Jesus that dwells in us! 4. He must admit that doing and bearing what he has in the way of meekness and humility, he has not done one stitch more than it was his duty to do. We were created and redeemed to serve!

What a contrast to the world’s standards! To be high, we must be low. (James 4:10) To be great in the eyes of the Father, we must be servant of all! What an honor to be a servant of the Master, the One who was willing Himself to be a Servant! (Philippians
2:6-8).

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28