What's A Servant?

Last year I did a study on the words servant and serve. As I was flipping back through my journal, I happened upon my study and realized how important these words are for us. What is a servant?

1 Samuel 3:10

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Once Samuel realized who was speaking to him, he immediately answered that he was listening.

However, he did not stop there. He listened, but then he acted according to the Lord's commands.

A servant listens and obeys.

Philippians 2:7

... but made himself (Jesus) nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

A servant makes himself nothing.

Matthew 20:26-28

... whoever wants to become great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus is the greatest servant of all. His entire life was dedicated to serving. In fact, he gave his life for us.

A servant gives his life for others.

Deuteronomy 13:4

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

God is testing his people. When faced with idols of other cultures, the Israelites must follow God alone, and hold fast to him. What about us? What idols lead us away from God? What things in our lives cause us to no longer revere God?

A servant follows, reveres, and holds fast to God.

2 Chronicles 19:9

... You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord.

Here the king of Judah is appointing judges. Although they are placed in authority, they are to use their post to serve others, in the fear of the Lord.

A servant serves faithfully and wholeheartedly.

Psalms 2:11

Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

This verse also admonishes those in authority. Kings are told that to be wise is to serve the Lord.

A servant fears the Lord and rejoices in him.

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

God has given us freedom! Not freedom to sin, but freedom to love and serve. Freedom to dedicate our lives to his service. What could be better than that?

A servant is free to serve out of love.

Ephesians 6:7

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

When we only think of men, our service changes when others are not around. How many of us are guilty of cutting corners when there is no one to compliment us on our work? I know I am. But when our mindset is of service to the Lord, our service takes on a new aspect.

A servant serves wholeheartedly, no matter the circumstances.

1 Peter 4:10

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

God gives each of us special gifts. It is up to us how we use them. Do we use them to serve others? To faithfully administer God's grace?

A servant uses his gifts to serve others.

Drawing from all of this, I can add:

- a servant is humble

- a servant is loving

- a servant is joyful

- a servant loves God

So, what is a servant? It's not an easy answer, but I hope you have gained a better idea through this post.

Written by Magali Laporte.