Sermon Snippet – We Are Servants of the Servants
INTRODUCTION – Years ago, I asked a pastor friend what he would tell young Christians were the most important attributes to cultivate. He immediately responded, “Humility and a servant attitude.” He possessed both. Each Christian must realize that the purpose of this life is to be a servant of the Servant, Jesus Christ.
1. THE BIBLE PROVIDES FINE EXAMPLES OF SERVANTHOOD
The word “servant” is used hundreds of times in Scripture and is frequently used as a designation for devoted followers of our Savior God. Exodus 14:31 speaks of “the LORD, and His servant Moses.” Long before this successful and miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, Moses had chosen “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25); he had chosen to side with the Israelites – slaves! – instead of remaining in Pharaoh’s court in Egypt. He also spent forty years in Midian as a shepherd-servant to his father-in-law Jethro. A principle emerges for all of us: the preparation for being a servant is being a servant right where we are.
Joshua is another example: Exodus 33:11 refers to him as a servant of Moses. Later, in Joshua 25:29, he is called “the servant of the LORD.” Obviously, both titles are true. The application for us is that we serve God in many ways, including by serving others.
Another example is Samuel (I Samuel 3:10). Like Joshua, he had to replace his mentor. The High Priest Eli was not an effective leader, as Moses was, but he was kind to Samuel. Certainly it was a daunting circumstance for Samuel. Who really wants that level of responsibility? Samuel became the spiritual leader for millions of people; that is intense pressure! The simple fact is that, unless Jesus returns for His own soon, others will have to step into our roles as servants of the Lord. Each Christian needs to prepare for this inevitability.
David is a cautionary example for us. He was God’s servant (II Samuel 3:18) and was usually an excellent one. When did he fail? One great failure (recorded in II Samuel 11) occurred when he was not serving the people of Israel: he should have been leading the military. An old saying warns, “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” In a practical sense, if we are busy as servants, we will not have time to act like pagan overlords.
The example of Elijah (II Kings 9:36) is somewhat different. Few people followed his godly teaching; only 7,000 still trusted in YAHWEH, the One True God. As a servant, he seemed to have little to no impact upon the spiritual life of the nation. Perhaps we as Christians in our country feel much the same way. God cared about that tiny minority then, and He does not change. Our servanthood matters to Him, as well as to at least some people.
2. THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOOD IS JESUS
The mission statement of Jesus (Mark 10:42-45) focuses on His role as servant. Philippians 2:5-8 echoes the servanthood of our Savior. His consistent example, including washing the feet of His disciples, reveals the practical ways that we are called to serve. Of course, far greater is His self-sacrifice on the Cross for all of us. We cannot duplicate His service there, but we can appreciate it, enter into an eternal relationship with Him because of it, and emulate it.
CONCLUSION – The Gospel message that we find in both the Mark and Philippians passages is a personal one. God the Son, Jesus Christ, became our Servant to save us from our sins, to provide forgiveness, and to have an unending relationship with Him in heaven. May each one of us trust in Him for His everlasting salvation, and may we serve Him with gladness. Let us begin by being willing servants of those closest to us.