We serve God by serving others.
In our self-serving culture with its ‘me-first’ mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. (At work, I often catch myself delegating tasks to our casual staff that I could easily do or get myself; thus interrupting their given assignments - I thank God for opening my eyes to my defective attitude)
God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. Remember God shaped you for service, not for self-centredness. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity.
+ Real servants make themselves available to serve.
If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.
+ Real servants pay attention to needs.
Always be on the lookout for ways to help others. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servant-hood. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” – John Wesley
(Good means ways, places, times and people as long as ever – being Methodist that is the way I remembered it for Catechism/Confirmation class)
Do little things as if they were great things – God is watching us…
+ Real servants do their best with what they have.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve. It doesn’t have to be perfect for God to use and bless it.
+ Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
The size of the task is irrelevant – God will never exempt you from the menial and mundane. Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant’s heart is revealed in little acts that others don’t think of doing. No task is beneath you when you have a servant’s heart – before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.
Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need – you develop a servant’s heart when you’re willing to do anything needed.
+ Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
Good servants finish their tasks, fulfill responsibilities, keep promises and complete commitments – they don’t quit when feeling discouraged and are trustworthy and dependable.
Faithfulness has always been a rare quality – you need to keep promises, fulfill vows and honour commitments to be a faithful servant – work at it constantly.
Imagine what it will feel like when you get to Heaven one day and God says to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…” {Matthew 25: 21 & 23} (I sheepishly admit using that verse when pleased with the accomplishments of the guys at work – they actually perform better to hear me compliment them with it! – am I bad?)
Faithful servants never retire. They serve faithfully as long as they’re alive!
+ Real servants maintain a low profile.
“Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.” When real servants are given recognition for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the acclamation to distract them from their work.
Don’t turn helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for others – Jesus hated this attitude. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix!
You won’t find many real servants in the limelight; in truth they avoid it when possible. They are content with quietly serving in the shadows. [Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to attention, unaware that always being in the spotlight blinds you!]
You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. LISTEN: God put you where you are for a purpose! – Stay put, He will let you know if He wants you somewhere else – your ministry matters to the Kingdom of God.
In Heaven God is going to openly reward some of His most obscure and unknown servants. Knowing this, don’t be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God. Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded.
I so wish and pray we could be serving together... I love you ~ SB
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