A Servant's Heart

  The word serve “douleuo” (Strongs 1398), is translated “to be a slave to (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily): – be in bondage, (do) serve (-ice).”

To be in the position of a servant and act accordingly; to be subject and serve in subjection or bondage." While the idea of being in bondage goes against the desire of our nature, this is exactly what the Lord commands and expects of us. This particular Greek word is translated into different English words in scripture. This Greek word, Strongs 1398, is translated "enslaved" in John 8:33, "bondage" in Acts 7:7, "slaves" in Romans 6:6, and "slavery" in Galatians 4:25.

When we serve, we are to have the heart of a servant. The Lord is our master. He bought us with His blood and He now owns us. Our price tag was staggering, so high that it cost the Lord His life blood. He bought us for one reason and that is to glorify Him and in turn, we receive life eternal. His love was so great that He humbled Himself, came, and served man. "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) (The word "serve" in this verse means to minister, the Greek word is diakoneo).

One of the terms used to describe Christians in scripture is the word "servant." In Romans 1:1, Paul is described as a "bond-servant" of Christ. Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1). "Bond-servant" is literally translated as "slave." In Mark 9:35, scripture states "Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:35). Servant in this case, is the Greek word “diakoneo “to minister or serve.

Paul is literally described as a "slave" in scripture (Romans 1:1). To be a slave is to be under the control of another. When we accept Christ into our lives, we are under the control of God. Sinners are in bondage to sin while Christians, have been bought with a price and have become the property of God, are to be in service to God. Being a servant of God reminds us to whom we owe our allegiance. We no longer serve sin but serve God who bought us: For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. (Romans 6:10).

Christ commands us that in everything that we do, we are to do it as unto Him. We are to serve our fellow man as if we are serving Him. We take on the heart of a servant. Our service is not limited to our fellow brothers and sisters in Him. For instance, He commands us to feed our enemies. (Romans 12:20) (Proverbs 25:21) In all that we do, we are to take on the heart of a servant as we are serving Him when we serve our fellow man. Our work for the Lord is to be His light. When we feed our enemy, we are exposing the light of the Gospel.

Our Lord lived a life of humility. The most poignant example that He gave us was when He washed the feet of His disciples. Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (John 13:5)

In those days, it was the duty of the lowliest servant to wash the feet of the guests. It was not a job of the superiors to wash the feet of their inferiors. This also was not a custom used by the Jews at Passover or regular meals but when strangers or travelers who came in from a journey with dirt and filth on their feet, a duty reserved for the lowly servant. This duty belonged to the least of the servants to wash the filthy feet of the stranger. Yet, our Lord, our God, disrobed and put a towel around his waist and performed the duty reserved for the least of the servants. Jesus rose from the table, then pours water into a basin, bends down at the feet of His disciples, and begins washing their feet, one by one. The Lord, God in the flesh, bends down at the feet of His creation to wash their feet. Jesus then states in John 13:15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. (John 13:15)

Our Lord’s life is our example on how we are to serve. He taught both by example and by His words. If our Lord can take on the duty of the lowliest servant and wash the feet of His disciples, then we MUST, if we are to follow Him, take on the heart of a servant, like He did, when we deal with our fellow man. Jesus did not just tell us what we must do; He showed us what we must do. When we serve our fellow man in the way He instructs us, we are serving Him.

In Matthew 25:43, our Lord explains that if we serve others, it is as if we are serving Him: I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ (Matthew 25:43) He is saying that the sick, hungry, naked, downtrodden are those He stands for, who He came for. In Matthew 25:40, He says that whatever we do to the least of them, we did it to Him "The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

If we humble ourselves and serve, He states we are, in essence, doing this service as if we have done it to Him. Feed and clothe our enemy and we have taken on the heart of a servant and the gospel is able to shine through us. God has shown us how to do it, He took on the job of the least of the servants and washed the feet of the disciples and then gave up His life to give us life eternal.

Remember, the Lord has not asked us to serve and take on a heart that He was not willing to do. Never forget His beginnings. He was born in a stable to a poor family; He took on the trade of a carpenter, lived a life of humility and did the duties of a servant. He lived a life for the service of man and finally, died a death so cruel, so unimaginable, and between two criminals — all for one reason — so that mankind did not have to spend eternity separated from Him. He had no wealth and He had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He has not asked us to do anything that He was not willing to do. We must remember His life, His example, His teachings when we are reluctant to do something because it is "beneath" us — always remember that it was God that washed the dirty feet of His creation — a job that no one can argue was not beneath Him. Never forget that Jesus, God in the flesh, could have come in opulence, as is His due. Bear in mind, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is God. Yet, He chose to come and be born into a poor home, He asked fishermen and tax collectors, the insignificant, to be His followers. He ate and lived with what were looked upon as the insignificant of society. He said that had no place to lay His head.

He has a purpose for our lives here on earth. That purpose can be seen first in Him. He came to bring us the Gospel. He lived
the Gospel that He taught us to live by. God doesn’t say to us do as I say, not as I do. He said listen to what I say and I’ll show you how to do it. He is our first and foremost example. He doesn’t save us and then immediately bring us home to Him. He leaves us here for a reason. And that reason is to do His work which he taught us to do. And He showed us how to do that. Following Him are His disciples whom He taught by His words and by His example. They went out and preached His word. Paul is referred to as a servant of Christ. We are to take on the heart of a servant so His light can shine through. In Matthew 5:15, He explains that we are to be His light so that others might see the light and benefit by it nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (Matthew 5:15)

He uses the parable that if you light a candle, you do not conceal the light but put it in a place where it may be of use. We are His candle, His light. He showed us how others can see this light. It can be seen by others and be of benefit to them if we take on the heart of a servant, like He showed us. Our words are meaningless to others unless we live His teachings. If God Himself is willing to take on the duties of the most menial servant by washing dirty feet, what task can we say is beneath us? There is nothing. In order for His "candle" to shine and be of benefit to others is to place the candle on a mantle for all to see. We do this by taking on the heart of a servant. When we serve others with a humble heart, with the heart of a servant, we serve Him and therefore His light that He wishes to shine, can be seen by others and be of benefit.

Too many Christians treat God as if it is their due and their right to have their every desire fulfilled. While He may fulfill the desires of our heart, our purpose is is to serve Him and to bring Him Glory.

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