Saturday, August 21: A servant to all!

In our culture, the words “slave” and “servant” carry negative connotations. Especially in the history of the United States, slavery reminds us of a time when our ancestors uprooted families from African nations and sold them to do manual labor for others without pay. Other nations were involved in the slave trade, too. One of the best depictions of that time is the movie, “Amazing Grace,” which celebrates the life of William Wilberforce, a transformed Christian and member of Parliament who devoted his life to ending slavery in England. Additionally, the movie touches on the life of John Newton, a former slave trader who wrote the words to our best known hymn, using his painful past to understand God’s love and forgiveness. It is difficult to imagine how painful it must have been to be living freely, working and supporting a family, only to be kidnapped, taken across the world, and forced to work for others…or die.


There is a difference between a slave and a servant. A servant is paid for his work, while a slave is not, but is purchased from someone else. As negative as the word “servant” is, the Bible refers to Paul, Peter, James, Jude and Epaphras as bondservants of Jesus Christ. “Bondservant” is duolos in Greek. In the Old Testament, a servant would work for six years, and then be set free. Yet if the servant wanted to remain, he would place his ear against a wooden door, have his ear pierced by an awl and would stay with the master by choice. The earring placed through the servant’s ear was a sign that he belonged to the master forever (Exodus 21:1-6). As Christians, we are no different from the other bondservants mentioned in the Bible. We have chosen to remain with our Master forever, and certainly, we are paid handsomely! We have been given eternal life! What would cause a servant to desire to remain with the master? Certainly, they would have to think they were well taken care of, but they would really have to love the master! Let’s look at another servant in the Bible:


12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:12-17

When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He performed a task that only the lowest in class would attempt. Knowing that, Peter told the Lord that he would not allow Him to serve in that manner. Yet Jesus told Peter without Peter allowing that to happen, He would have no part of Peter. That changed Peter’s mind very quickly! Peter always seemed to be the one who said what he thought. We can see that as courage or brashness, but it had to be uncomfortable to have Jesus, who was God on earth, washing the dirtiest part of the disciples’ bodies. Envision how nasty their feet would be, wearing sandals and walking around on the unpaved roads. Yet that is exactly the lesson the Lord wanted them, and us, to learn.


For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
Luke 22:27


A servant is not concerned with his own needs, but a good master will take care of those needs. Jesus served His disciples and us, knowing that the Father would take care of His needs. In turn, Jesus calls us to serve others. That is the kind of love that will speak loudest to a broken world. If we are busy serving others, God will certainly take care of our needs! Be careful that you don’t serve to be seen! Each of us knows a special friend with a servant’s heart, who is always working behind the scenes. The Bible tells us not to even let our left hand know what our right hand is doing! Are you a servant to all? Jesus was! If God can lower Himself, we certainly can!


33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 9:33-35