Submitted by David
Miller
Whoever wants
to be great must become a servant. Mark 10:43 (MSG)
The world defines greatness
in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand
service from others, you’ve arrived. In our me-first culture, acting
like a servant is not a popular concept.
Jesus, however, measured
greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how
many people you serve, not how many people serve you.
This is so contrary to the
world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less
practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent
position, and 2,000 years later, people still jockey for position and
prominence.
Thousands of books have been
written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one
wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even
Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servants. But to be
like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.
While knowing your gift is
important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more
important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness.
Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your gift or talent
for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt
yourself from meeting some needs.
God often tests our hearts
by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. If you see a man fall into a
ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, “I don’t have the gift of
mercy or service.”
While you may not be gifted
for a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one who is gifted at it
is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your gift, but your
secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment.
Your gift reveals your
ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity. 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.
It is possible to serve in
church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant’s
heart.
How can you know if you have
the heart of a servant?
Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by
what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV).
