Message of the Month by Pastor Paul June 2019
The Ancient Path of SERVICE
“Stand in the ways and see
And ask for the ANCIENT PATHS
where the good way is,
And walk in it.
Then you will find rest for your souls.”
Jeremiah 6v16
The Ancient Path of SERVICE
I always get slightly uncomfortable when people talk about God ‘using’ them. The word USE sounds very close to the word ABUSE and God does not use anybody, instead He graciously INCLUDES us in the purposes and plans He is working on. He is therefore looking for those who are ready and willing to serve His purposes.
The first requirement of service is to be available.
Availability
We see this availability in two very famous people who walked the pathway of obedient service long before us. The first is Isaiah (6:8) who on hearing what God wanted to do said: “Here am I send me” and Mary who said: “Be it unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). In both cases God revealed what He wanted to do but He did not force them to do His will, He just waited for them to be willing and volunteer. God is still waiting for volunteers!
Servant-heartedness
The supreme volunteer was Jesus Himself. As George Verwer once said: “He did not sit in heaven saying ‘O earthlings I love you’” - Jesus willingly laid aside His glory and came into this sin-sick world as the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah (42:1-3, 49:6). His whole attitude was one of servant-heartedness:
“He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant"
(Philippians 2:7).
Bond-slaves
The apostles Paul and Peter described themselves as servants of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1, Phil 1:1, Titus 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1). The word there for servant is Doulos which is the word for a bond-slave.
In Bible times there was no such thing as employment as a servant - everyone who served a master had been bought and therefore they were the property of their master or mistress. A servant could rise to very high responsibility within the household (remember Joseph?) - but they were not free to do their own will - they had to be totally available to obey their masters.
For Jews it was slightly different. It was against the law of God for a Jew to make a fellow Jew a slave for life but if it was necessary for a Jewish person to become a servant because of debt or poverty, they were still bought and became their master’s property, but the law only allowed them to serve for six years and when that came to an end they had to be set free (Exodus 21:1-3).
However, if the servant chose to, he could become a willing bond-slave. He would do that because he was happy to serve his master for the rest of his life.
Paul and Peter identified themselves in this way as willing slaves of Jesus Christ, “bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). James and Jude were probably half-brothers of Jesus, yet they also were delighted to describe themselves as His bond-slaves too.
Servant-Leaders
Back in the 1970’s the small Baptist church in the town where I was a young pastor were calling their equally young group of leaders – ‘servant-leaders.’ I have to admit that at the time I didn’t much approve of it because they got the term from some conference they had been to and I didn’t know how much they (or I) really understood it, but looking back on it now they had got the right idea.
I wish that all leaders in the church considered themselves to be
servants more than leaders!
This concept of leadership began with Jesus. As Dinesh D'Souza, a famous political commentator and Christian apologist in America, recently wrote:
“Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy.”
Jesus saw himself as a servant leader:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (God first - and in serving God serving us): and to give his life as a ransom for many”
(Matthew 20:28).
“But I am among you as one who serves.”
(Luke 22:27)
He taught his disciples this principle of servant leadership by example and with words:
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (John 12:13-14)
Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves" (Luke 22:25-26).
We see this servant-leadership style modelled by Paul and Peter:
“We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.” (2 Thess 3:7-8).
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).
We see here the spirit of true New Testament servant leadership. Leadership in the church must first seek to serve God’s purposes but then, just as Jesus did, we must serve God by serving His people with love, leading by example, working hard, never manipulating people but laying down our lives for each other.
I came across that servant heartedness just today. One of the retired ladies in our church was speaking with one of the younger married women who was stressed out by work and many other commitments including not having time to do a great load of washing and ironing. Very simply the older sister said "I'll do the washing for you" - and the younger woman said "You can't do that!" - "Yes I can - we are called to serve one another."
To serve Jesus is perfect freedom. He is the most wonderful master. We serve a master who has a servant attitude and He is our perfect example. We have to be ready to work hard but it’s the most purposeful service in the whole world and its end is a reward in eternity:
“When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that will never fade away.”
1 Peter 5:4