Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
How can you know if you have the heart of a servant?
Check out these 6 points to check yourself out.
1. Real Servants Make Themselves Available.
2 Timothy 2:4
4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
Servants want to be ready to jump into service when called on. A soldier is always ready.
A real servant does what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient to them and their time.
Are you willing to let God change your plans?
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.
2. Real Servants Pay Attention To Needs.
Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others and always sensitive to others’ cries.
When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us:
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servant hood. Opportunity comes and goes. We may miss the opportunity to serve because we're not paying attention.
3. Real Servants Do Their Best With What They Have.
Servants don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances.
Servants never say, “One of these days” or “When the time is right.”
They just do what needs to be done.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they will never harvest.
God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.
Less-than perfect service is always better than the best intention.
You may not have much, but offer what you have. Grow with it as you do it, whether it be praying for the sick, leading in prayer, preaching or whatever. As God’s call is there, His hand is there.
4. Real Servants Do Every Task With Equal Dedication.
Colossians 3:23
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Whatever they do, servants “do it with all their heart”
You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with small tasks. “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody”
Galatians 6:3
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
Jesus specialized in small servant tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he came to serve. It wasn’t in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example
John 13:15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
Luke 16:10-12
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
5. Real Servants Are Faithful To Their Ministry.
Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises and complete their commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone. They don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.
Many people don’t know the meaning of commitment. These days, commitments are often too lightly made.
People make commitments casually, then break them for the slightest reason without any hesitation, remorse or regret. Every week, churches and other organizations must improvise because volunteers didn’t prepare, didn’t show up, or didn’t even call to say they weren’t coming.
Can you be counted on by others? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfill, or commitments you need to honor? This is a test. God is testing your faithfulness.
Matthew 25:23
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
6. Real Servants Maintain A Low Profile.
Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves.
1 Peter 5:5
In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the recognition to distract them from their work.
Eye service is serving in order to impress people with how spiritual we are. This was a sin of the Pharisees.
They turned helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for others. Jesus hated this attitude and warned against it.
Matthew 6:1
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
Self-promotion and servant hood don’t mix. Real servants don’t serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for an audience of one.
Galatians 1:10
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
CONCLUSION
1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Do you want to give honor and joy to the Lord? Do you need to look out from your self-centeredness, to serve others and so serve the Lord?
Ask God to give you a servant’s heart. Ask Him to break down your pride and to keep a check on your life. Do what God has called you to do. Humble yourself before Him. Do it all for His praise, not for the praise of others.
Students wrote on the board their thoughts of what a Servant was
