In our quests to be happy, to be liked, to be noticed, to be loved and respected, we can too often miss a more important opportunity: being a servant. We often know what we want from God or what we want from others, but how often do we want to be one who serves? We get irritated when others don't serve us, or when the service is sloppy or sporadic - but what about your service to others?
This chapter requires humility - if you want to get something good out of it. When it comes to meaning in life, strengthening your home, improving work conditions, doing better at school, and getting more out of church, having the heart of a servant will go a long, long way.
Here's some thoughts from the chapter that I really liked:
We serve God by serving others.
Jesus...measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant's heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain.
God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways that we're not shaped. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
This list was really helpful to me, and maybe it will be for you. We don't have to guess if we are a servant or not, we can know, and we can get better at it. Which of these six ideas is an area of strength for you, and which one is an area of struggle?
How can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, "You can tell what they are by what they do."
* Real servants make themselves available to serve.
If you only serve when it is convenient for you, you're not a real servant. If you will remind yourself at the start of every day that you are God's servant, interruptions won't frustrate you as much, because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into your life. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.
* Real servants pay attention to needs.
Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long.
* Real servants do their best with what they have.
Servants don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. 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.
* 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. 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."
Small tasks often show a big heart. No task is beneath you when you have a servant's heart. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.
* 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-done, and they don't quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.
* Real servants maintain a low profile.
Servant's 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." Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities.
You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. Listen: God put you where you are for a purpose. You had better stay put until he chooses to move you. He will let you know if he wants you somewhere else. Your ministry matters to the kingdom of God. "When Christ... shows up again on this earth, you'll show up too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity."
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