Not Me, I’m a Servant!
One of the most prevalent spiritual “gifts” that people embrace is the gift of service. Unfortunately, it’s possible to serve in a church without any connection to the Holy Spirit. It’s a type of comfort zone of church participation, one with a very small measure of risk. In short, it doesn’t take much faith to wash the dishes after an event, make photocopies for the pastor, or help with grounds maintenance. I am not minimizing the value of these acts of service. In truth, it reveals our humility but not our gift and calling. To use service as an excuse not to risk is cheating the world, Jesus, and ourselves.
What is MY Gift?
Before I continue, allow me to share what I believe about spiritual gifts. I believe the Holy Spirit is our gift and he brings the whole banana with him. One doesn’t get the Spirit with the gift of healing and another gets the Spirit with the gift of discerning of spirits. Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 12 there is ONE Spirit. My point is although we will have definite leanings and preferences, we have access to everything the Holy Spirit carries in his presence. Knowing this has radically changed my perspective of the “call” of Christian service and the gifts that enable him or her to respond.
But Why Me . . .
In the New Testament we witness a progression of relationship between God and humanity thanks to Jesus. Prior to his death and resurrection, the followers of Jesus started out as servants. Then we see a transition happen in John 15:15 and Jesus basically says you are no longer servants who only live to serve but I say you are my friends in whom I confide. Oh if only the church could take hold of this truth! He doesn’t want our service as much as he longs to share his thoughts and heart. But we don’t end there. In Romans 8:15 our adoption is revealed. It is as if God has said I no longer call you friends but sons and daughters. If intimacy and revelation flow between friends, how much more between family? We are part of the family! Nothing is withheld or hidden but every good thing is revealed and shared. Our identity is now based upon this truth “I am a child of God.” My father is a king and he has made me a king in his kingdom.
It may make you uncomfortable to say that out loud because it feels so proud. If this is so, I want to remind you what being a king means. A servant lives to please one master but a king serves everyone in the kingdom. It his responsibility to maintain an atmosphere that blesses everyone in the kingdom. Whether it’s safety or prosperity or health or growth it is ultimately the responsibility of the king of the land. Since we are the children of the king, his kingdom is now our family business. In ancient times, there was one King but many kings (usually children or siblings of the one king) who served him by governing as “him” in their province or region. Who re-presented him to the people of their metron (area of influence). It was their responsibility to rule as he would, making decisions or acting as he would if he were present. We are the many. We are kings under the one king. You must choose every day to look like the one king in every choice and decision. Using your influence, power and authority to sustain and increase his kingdom. This can be troubling for some as it implies greatness when most are more comfortable being mediocre. (Unfortunately, nothing thrives under mediocrity.) The truth is there is nothing as humbling as being a king in God’s kingdom.
Consider this, in the communion narrative of John 13 Jesus washes the feet of his followers. Can you imagine? The son of God performing the most menial of tasks to demonstrate what a true king looks like. Secure in who he was and knowing where he was going he demonstrates what royalty should look like. Dirty feet? I will wash them. Diseased? I will heal you. Dead? I will raise you. Demonized? I will deliver you. Blind? I will restore your sight. Deaf? I will release you to hear. Hungry and harassed? I will feed you. Overwhelmed and sin sick? I will forgive you and restore you. There is nothing I won’t do to bless you and bring you into my kingdom. I will not isolate my service to what I’m comfortable with but I will serve as he would serve you. I only do what I see my Father do.
The gift of service may include washing the dishes or pulling weeds but it also includes healing the sick, proclaiming the gospel and raising the dead! It is a high calling to greatness. We are ALL called to be servants. When you know who you are and where you are going, you will have everything you need to serve in the same way he did. Serve as a king in the kingdom of your father.
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