New Year; New Commitment: Servant

1. Jesus is our example of servanthood.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:4-7

  • Allow the interests/rights of others to become greater than mine. 

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

  • Become _less_ so others become more. 

“emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant”.

  • Overall truth:

It’s more about _being_ than doing.

2. You are _made_ to serve.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Ephesians 2:10

Overall truth:

++You were made to _contribute_, not just to consume.

In other words:

++It’s never about the duration of your life, rather the _donation_ of your life. 

(Job 10:8a) “Your hands fashioned and made me”

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

1 Peter 4:10

Overall truth:

++It’s not about you. It’s all about God working through you.

In the Bible the terms “ministry”, “servant”, and “service” are the same word. 

Let’s go back to our example of Jesus being our example of how to be a servant. 

26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26-28

1. _Available_

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 

32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. 

Matthew 20:29-34

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” -when you have it with you.

Proverbs 3:27-28

What keeps you from being “available” for God’s service?

  • Self-centeredness 

(Phil. 2:4) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

  • _Perfectionism_ 

(Ecclesiastes 11:4) He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 

  • ___________________

2. Thankful

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”John 11:41-42

Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 100:2

3. Faithful

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 

John 17:4

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

The best display of a servant’s heart is simply _showing up_.