The Heart of a True Servant
Hi everyone,
I really don't know why God put this topic in my heart. But it's heavy on my heart. Maybe there are some things in me that I need to take a look at to be sure that I'm being the faithful servant that God called me to be. And servant hood is sometimes so hard to get right, because we as people naturally would like to be a lead or in some form of leadership. After all, God called us to be the head and not the tail right? Well, in order to be the head, you HAVE to go through the process of learning how to truly serve. And in order to truly be a good servant, you have to have a humble heart. You can't be a servant with motives. You can't say, I am going to serve you, but as long as it works out within my schedule because I got things to do too. You have to have a certain level of sacrifice. God knows we all have a family to take care of, and I do not believe that He would interfere in that. But I do believe that He would be happy to know that if you are needed, you will find a way to make the time to serve if requested. And the thing that I love about when you are serving Him, is that He takes care of everything that you had to sacrifice so that when you return, everything is ok. That's my favorite part. I KNOW that when I go to serve, NOT MY CHURCH, but My God, that I know if I had to sacrifice time elsewhere or sacrifice time doing something else, that He is taking care of that for me. No He isn't cooking my dinner for me, but maybe He made it so you came across an extra $20 that you didn't realize you had and you can order pizza. Or maybe you couldn't go shopping for that outfit you needed, but He puts you in line with someone who knows the website where you can order it AND get it for cheaper on time. God does it, especially when you just open your eyes and your heart to believe it.
Well, back to being a servant. In order to be a good servant, you really have to make sure that we have the qualities of a Faithful Servant. *Disclaimer: I do not claim to be the good servant that has it all together. As I said before, God may have me on this because I may be missing a point or two myself. Here is what I was able to find, and keep in mind, this is worded so perfectly, I'm copying it out of a website that I found. I will personally attach the corresponding scriptures though:
*1. Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty. The Bible says, ‘No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.’ If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Real servants do what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient. That’s what you might call an ‘inconvenient truth’.
*2. Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us, ‘Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.’ When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your ‘things to do’ list.
*4. Real servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants ‘do it with all their heart’. The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It’s a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, ‘If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.’ It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
*5. Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone, and they don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.
*6. Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they ‘put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.’ If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow notoriety to distract them from their work.
This pretty much said it all for me. But in all of this, if you still find your heart troubled and things are not going the way you THOUGHT they were supposed to go at the end of the day, and family life is in a little bit of turmoil, and things are just going wrong left and right, and you are about to throw in the towel for the absolutely last time, try this scripture on for size. This is the one that I have to cling to almost daily at certain times, even now...
Be Blessed Everyone. I Love You All.
*Quotes came from the following website: http://www.stthomasac.com/saintNew.com/be-prepared-for-something-wonderful-10
I really don't know why God put this topic in my heart. But it's heavy on my heart. Maybe there are some things in me that I need to take a look at to be sure that I'm being the faithful servant that God called me to be. And servant hood is sometimes so hard to get right, because we as people naturally would like to be a lead or in some form of leadership. After all, God called us to be the head and not the tail right? Well, in order to be the head, you HAVE to go through the process of learning how to truly serve. And in order to truly be a good servant, you have to have a humble heart. You can't be a servant with motives. You can't say, I am going to serve you, but as long as it works out within my schedule because I got things to do too. You have to have a certain level of sacrifice. God knows we all have a family to take care of, and I do not believe that He would interfere in that. But I do believe that He would be happy to know that if you are needed, you will find a way to make the time to serve if requested. And the thing that I love about when you are serving Him, is that He takes care of everything that you had to sacrifice so that when you return, everything is ok. That's my favorite part. I KNOW that when I go to serve, NOT MY CHURCH, but My God, that I know if I had to sacrifice time elsewhere or sacrifice time doing something else, that He is taking care of that for me. No He isn't cooking my dinner for me, but maybe He made it so you came across an extra $20 that you didn't realize you had and you can order pizza. Or maybe you couldn't go shopping for that outfit you needed, but He puts you in line with someone who knows the website where you can order it AND get it for cheaper on time. God does it, especially when you just open your eyes and your heart to believe it.
Well, back to being a servant. In order to be a good servant, you really have to make sure that we have the qualities of a Faithful Servant. *Disclaimer: I do not claim to be the good servant that has it all together. As I said before, God may have me on this because I may be missing a point or two myself. Here is what I was able to find, and keep in mind, this is worded so perfectly, I'm copying it out of a website that I found. I will personally attach the corresponding scriptures though:
*1. Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty. The Bible says, ‘No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.’ If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Real servants do what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient. That’s what you might call an ‘inconvenient truth’.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
*2. Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us, ‘Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.’ When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your ‘things to do’ list.
Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
*3. Real servants do their best with what they have. Servants don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never say, “One of these days” or “When the time is right.” They just do what needs to be done. The Bible says, ‘If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.’ God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention.
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
*4. Real servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants ‘do it with all their heart’. The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It’s a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, ‘If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.’ It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
*5. Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone, and they don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.
Revelation 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
*6. Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they ‘put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.’ If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow notoriety to distract them from their work.
Matthew 6:3-4 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
This pretty much said it all for me. But in all of this, if you still find your heart troubled and things are not going the way you THOUGHT they were supposed to go at the end of the day, and family life is in a little bit of turmoil, and things are just going wrong left and right, and you are about to throw in the towel for the absolutely last time, try this scripture on for size. This is the one that I have to cling to almost daily at certain times, even now...
2 Chronicles 15:6-7 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
Be Blessed Everyone. I Love You All.
*Quotes came from the following website: http://www.stthomasac.com/saintNew.com/be-prepared-for-something-wonderful-10
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