I believe that the servants in His church are on the heart of the Father. God’s servant people have always been the force that turns the wheels of the church. I speak of the people who are most deserving of our recognition but seek it the least. They are God’s under-recognized remnant that glorifies the Father by serving His people. They may do this by cleaning pews or preaching in pulpits. It is not about a position but an attitude of heart. Whether they are followers or ones who are followed, they have one thing in common: they do what they do to glorify their Lord and not themselves.
A church without servants is like a carriage without a horse: it’s not going anywhere. We can’t see it, but we know when it is lacking. The Apostle Paul once described how the Body of Christ is held together by every joint (or ligament). A ligament is not very visible, but without it the muscle becomes absolutely useless. Servants in the church who give of
themselves to help make others successful are the glue that holds things together.
It seems to me that there is one central test for all true servants of Christ. . . being willing to do a great deal of the work and receive little credit. In that great stage we call life, your curtain calls may be few, but you play your roll for His glory. Not for what you can get, but what you can give. Keep an eternal rather than a temporal perspective. Keep your eye on the prize. One day you will stand before the Lord Jesus and He will look into your eyes and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” At that moment, all the pot in Colorado could never give you a high like that.
Remember, it’s not the height or even the breadth of your ministry that impresses God. It’s the depth of your love for Him which motivates you to serve that catches His eye. There is no greater calling than a servant of Christ.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
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Ken Barnes has had a twenty-five year career in educational pursuits. He has taught in various public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Virginia. He also worked for seventeen years with Youth With A Mission as a school leader, recruiter, and director. Ken holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places. He currently is a speaker, blogger, and freelance writer. Ken lives with his wife Sharon in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Visit Ken at https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/