Matthew 25:21 - "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"
This verse really hit me hard when I realized that Jesus would not say to me, Well done good and faithful evangelist, Bible teacher, man of prayer, or any such thing. But what will He say? And what do we long to hear? "Well done, good and faithful servant". Are you a servant of Jesus Christ? If so, what is your motivation to do so?
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." God is wanting for us to be giving not only our resources cheerfully but also our time and defiantly in the way we serve. Imagine with me that your at one of your favorite restaurants and the food is tastefully wonderful, the atmosphere is alive and friendly, but the service was terrible. Would you really want to go back?
In the same way we are to give ourselves up to the will of Jesus Christ completely and those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing the Lord's cause among men. In essence the way we serve others reflects or lacks the reflection of the way we serve the Lord. We want to reflect Jesus in such as way that it will leave people wanting to come back to hear more about Jesus, and have a relationship with Him.
Colossians 3:22-24 - "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
Just as we must obey your earthly boss or those in authority over us in everything we do, we want to make sure that we to please them all the time, and not just when they are watching us. The Lord would have us work hard and cheerfully at whatever we do, because we are really working for the Lord Jesus Christ rather than for people.
Matthew 20:25-28 - "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'"
You know that in this world big corporations, governments, officials, and bosses are mostly tyrants, and make sure everyone else notices them and their power and status. But as followers of Jesus Christ it should be quite different. Jesus said that if we want to be a leader among our fellow brothers and sisters we must be their servant. Remember that Jesus came here not to be served but to serve others, and Jesus gave His life as a ransom for the whole world.
Matthew 23:11-12 - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
If we desire to be greatly used by the Lord then we must be a servant. If we try to exalt ourselves will be humbled, and if you don't think so just wait. I have found that there is usually a big dose of humility right around the corner. However if we chose to humble ourselves will be exalted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now if we think great I'll humble myself and then God will exalt me, think again. God will humble you, until your serving with the right heart, the right motivation, and the right attitude.
Revelation 19:10 - "And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him [an angel]. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'"
John fell down at the feet of the angel in the Book of Revelation when he was showed a vision while imprisoned in the island of Patmos, and tried to worship the angel. But the angel said to John, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!" Even angles are servants of God, just like you and me we are commanded to only worship God. Not people, not our spouse, not our money, not our pastor, not our Bible, but only to worship Jesus Christ.
Remember that as a bond-servants we should think of ourselves in terms of stewardship rather than ownership. May the love of Christ so flow forth from your life that people in your neighborhood, around your work, would just be touched by God's love as you become His instrument bearing His truth and His love to them. May God be with you and keep you in the love of Jesus Christ to serve Him more cheerfully and faithfully.
Seek and save that which is lost and press on in Love,
Tim Molter
