What does that even mean to you? We look at the word “servant” and immediately think “to serve others.” But to what capacity? Does that mean to wait on others hand and foot without any regard to yourself? Well, kind of it does! You see, I’ll dabble into the ACTS movement for just a moment… look up my previous blog on that for more information. But, in ACTS we are called to serve. The commitment, time and effort you put into serving others, to ensure their time is memorable- is part of the whole gig. The reward you feel when you put others needs above your own because you truly, yes truly, care about their experience and their walk into their faith journey. How wonderful of a feeling to be such an intricate part of someone’s life even behind the scenes or in the shadows.
If you have a servant’s heart, the effort it takes to constantly put others ahead of you doesn’t seem like effort at all. If you surround yourself with the right group of people and have a serving husband then it will never feel like a one sided effort. If you teach your children to have a servant’s heart, then you won’t ever feel like you are picking up after them, or cooking for them when they can do it themselves. All of my children are capable of cooking and preparing something in the kitchen, from the extravagant cheddar stuffed bacon wrapped meatloaf to a simple grilled cheese. Even the 4 year old knows how to prepare her own breakfast and make her own ham sandwich. Does that mean I let them do it all the time? Of course not. I love to cook, I love to serve them and show them how much I care. The same way they love to serve me and clear off the table, wash the dishes from supper, help with the 4 year old’s homework without me asking at all. The respect that we share by continuing to serve each other is something I hope they will teach their children in the future and many years to come.
My husband has probably the biggest servant’s heart in our family. He always ensures I’m taken care of by simply coming to my work and “stealing” my car to fill it up with gas so I don’t have to stop on my way home. He isn’t the greatest chef, but he will go to multiple stores while I’m in the middle of cooking if I’m missing or forgot an ingredient. He has done more laundry than I ever have in my life and it becomes easy to serve him because we serve each other. I will tell you this doesn’t happen overnight. We have walked a very long path and journey to get to this point in our marriage. The first step down the right path, was putting God first, putting our faith first, then the rest just falls into place.
I am reminded so much of Jesus when we talk about a servant’s heart. We all strive to be more like Jesus. To serve like Him. But we have to serve with the right motivation. There cannot be a reward for your service. You cannot go into the servant task knowing you will be recognized for it. Now, if all that happens then awesome! But don’t go into it with any expectations. You are doing it to put God’s will above your own.
“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5
The bible teaches us that we are to serve others without interest in ourselves. To have the same attitude that Jesus would have while serving others.
Start out small. We can’t master this skill without constant effort. I mean serving like Jesus is a tall order to fill! When you are at the gas station, pick up your spouses’ favorite candy bar. When you see an elderly lady struggling to open a door, hurry towards her and open it. Even if they aren’t elderly, hold the door open for someone. Pick up the piece of trash you see laying on the ground. Pray for others. Pray specifically for someone else you don’t always get along with or care for. Cook for your family with the joy of serving them. Fold the towels with Jesus on your heart. Once these things become second nature, graduate into more time consuming roles. Serving at church, taking an Adoration hour, being part of a ministry. Of course my favorite, serving and/or making an ACTS retreat.
Remember, you do not serve for gratitude, Jesus didn’t serve for what he would get in return. He served because He loves us and wants to continue to show that love and mercy through service.
Hugs and Loves,
Ali
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45