Servanthood

“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” John 13:14-15.

In meditating on my Bible Study, The Mind of Christ, I have come to the study of servanthood. My study states there are two reasons for servanthood in each of our lives.

1) It is a command. God’s prospective will always be from a spiritual standpoint and there will always be work to do in His kingdom. When one area of our service is complete we will be assigned another area. There is no retirement in the Kingdom of God whether we are on earth or in Heaven. The entire Bible is an account of God giving His chosen their assignment to further the gospel and the responses of those chosen. The same is with us thousands of years later. God lays opportunities to serve before us and we choose to walk in those opportunities or to turn our backs to them. Jesus used many parables surrounding the master/servant relationship. In every instance the servant was called to give an account of their servanthood. Our servanthood will also be called into account on judgment day which will reveal the level of our submission to God’s authority and obedience.

2) Jesus is our model. With each command God gave us an example for which we can see with our earthly eyes. He gave us Jesus to not only redeem us but to exemplify the manner in which we should serve. The Bible states that Jesus, ‘made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.’ Phil 2:7. Many people confuse the role of slave and servant. A slave is someone who is being held captive but a servant is one who is devoted to his master and accomplishes things on behalf of the master. There was usually great love and respect experienced between the master and the servant. We do not determine our service to God, but rather allow Him to determine what service He desires for our lives. We can use Jesus Christ as our model who came to earth to serve you and me to ensure we have the opportunity for eternal life. He served each of us through His life, His death and His resurrection.

What service will we be called to which will ever require the level of sacrifice that His required? Our service is gauged by our love for God. ‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your strength.’ Deut. 6:5.

Our level of service will show our level of love for God and for others.