A Journal of a Broken Personality

I'm learning about Servanthood.

I'm learning, I'm learning about Servanthood.

Being a Christian is all about being a servant, it is to walk a life in humility, it is putting God and everyone else first. "Me myself and I" would naturally come last. This was really hard for me. When I was in the world my happiness was very important, indeed the world needed to revolve around me. Whatever the cost I had to make sure the best was mine, putting other people first was hard as the famous saying goes "everyman for himself" I lived like that.

I only served other people only to get something out of it, I knew and learnt courtesy at young age, there were songs about it, I sang and knew the lyrics by heart but to do it was another story. I'm learning about servanthood in the church. This whole concept of putting other people first cannot be done out of the flesh, putting other people first, has its agendas and motives but when it is done by the Holy spirit it is done by love, servanthood can never be executed by the flesh only by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others" it's this concept of everything best for others and you last. In today's world and teaching, our own happiness is put before anyone else, what can I gain from this, will I benefit from this? man at his best is egotistical. John 15:12-13 "this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay one's life for his friends" those were the words of the Lord Jesus, that is the perfect act of love. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind, he thought of us before himself, because of love that was the greatest sacrifice. And we should be like that I'm not saying to die but to put our own interest aside and be considerate for other people. Servanthood cannot be separated from love, these two come hand in hand to become a servant is to operate from a place of genuine love. There is a woman at my church who has the most beautiful personality, we call her Aunty Biu (Bee-u) in her 60's she is so vibrant, bubbly and chatty. She has always wanted to sing in the choir but was asked to be an usher, a greeter on the Sunday service. The way she greets people is so warm and loving, it's as if you had already known her, my father said that the first time he ever stepped foot at Calvary Church she was there to greet him and escorted him to his seat, he said he felt her warm welcome. Aunty Biu exuberates the love of Christ in everything that she does. I soon found out that she works in the church, as the cleaner you wouldn't even guess that she does that, I was touched to see her service, the humility not once did she complain about her job, even when there is no water she happily fills the buckets to flush it. Aunty Biu is willing to help out in any way possible, even going out of her means to help direct people around she really has executed the verse in 1 Peter 4:9 "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling"

Servanthood means if there is not enough food in the pot for 2 you sacrifice yours for the other, it means letting people get on a bus before you, it means standing in que for a long time and seeing an elderly person behind you that you give your spot to them. "1 Corinthians 10:24 "Let no one seek his own, but each one the others well-being"

it means for fitting your happiness for the happiness of others, when people operate genuinely in servant hood, there is and unexplainable joy and satisfaction that comes from serving people, it gives us a warm and beautiful feeling, it somewhat feels like giving a present to someone when it's their birthday.

Servanthood, is service to man in whatever you do, Pastors are not only the servants of God but are the servants of the congregation, the Prime minister is the servant of the people, the teacher is the servant to the children, the piolet is the servant to the passengers. Indeed, we have now changed the concept to leaders and rightfully so but in actual fact the leaders are providing the service, too many times the title "leader" gets in the way that people become proud, arrogant, bossy and sadly the abuse of power.

Whatever type of work or job that we are called to do, we must do it to the best of our ability Colossians 3:23-24 "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" When we change our mindset and remember that everything we do we do is done unto God, we will begin to work differently realizing that God is watching we will become genuine, honest and cheerful. Servanthood isn't easy and it cannot be done genuinely unless it is operated from a place of humility. Only through humility can service be loving and kind, when pride replaces humility that's when the complaint and grumbling begins, laziness also creeps in being easily irritated.

We tend to overlook certain jobs and hold in high regards those who have white collar jobs its human nature to not take notice of those with everyday jobs, those who collect the rubbish, street cleaners, the cashiers etc. but when a person walks in with a business suite all eyes are on them. There is no partiality with God in the first 12 verses of James chapter 2, the writer talks about how the people in the church are treating each other differently, a rich man gets special treatment given great honor and respect and the poor man as if he was nothing, when we begin to treat people differently just because of their status we are guilty of partiality. With God there is no such things, he is righteous and just. Romans 2:11 "For there is no partiality with God"

Servanthood is about being fair to people no matter what their status, rich or poor, black or white, male or female, young or old. No matter what it may be servanthood treats all with love, respect and equality. Once we are able to love others the barriers won't be a problem but true unconditional love can only be given to others only if we have it and that is the Love of God. Galatians 5: 14"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this" you shall love your neighbor as yourself"

Jesus gave the best illustration of servant hood by washing the feet of the disciples in John 13, I never understood the concept so it wasn't really a big deal for me I usually just overlooked this story. Here we see the son of Gods act of humility by washing the feet of the disciples, in those days' people wore sandals walking around caused their feet to get dirty fast, when it was meal time it was customary to have their feet washed by the servants because the tables were low to the ground.

What a sight! The king of kings, God most high was washing mans feet, he didn't have to in actual fact it should have been the other way around, the disciples should have been the one to wash his feet but Jesus portrayed love and service to men John 13: 14-15 "If I then your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you and example, that you should do as I have done to you" Jesus life set the example he didn't go around dictating but he lived a life of humility grace and service. that is servanthood, Jesus showed us that we should serve other people even though it may seem and look like a dirty job or considered low he gave his best to others. That is what it is all about giving the best to others.

I'm still learning this, there are times where I put myself first and feel that my needs are important but I'm learning day by day to put myself on the side for the sake of others, it is difficult especially when in comes to prayer and I want to focus on myself but God reminds me that he knows all that I need and I need not worry but stand in the gap for others, I'm still learning that.

Are you are servant of God and do you serve man genuinely?

I'm learning, I'm learning about Servanthood.