The heart of a servant

Before attempting to serve God, we must first know whose ministry it is. By this I mean we must examine our motive for service. We must ask the question, am I doing this service for personal recognition, that people might say, "What a devoted servant he (she) is!" or am I serving because God has called me to serve Him in some way?

The call of God is essentially expressive of His nature; service is the outcome of what is fitted to my nature. Service becomes a snare if it is based on self-will. Am I set on my own way for God? Do I find myself thinking of a particular ministry of God's church as "my ministry?" If so we should check our heart attitude and spirit immediately. Such thinking is based on a self-willed determination to be Godly rather than a sincere desire to be "as one with God."

When we serve God with a correct heart motive, we are apt to become exhausted. We must take care to renew our strength in Him. Psalm 87:7 reminds us, "All my fresh springs shall be in thee!"

We must constantly remind ourselves: To whom do I belong and whom do I serve? Otherwise "self" creeps in and seeks credit for what God is doing. We have no right in our Christian work to be guided by our own affinities but only by our calling from God. We cannot be, as Paul said, "door-mats" without a correct spirit, or else we end up in bitter resentment.

We must always, as Christians, keep before us God's idea of servanthood. We shall serve others in a way that pleases God and points others to Him. "The first shall be last and the last shall be first." And "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

Then our service is pleasing to Him.