His Servant and Yours

I don’t know who said it first. All that I do know is that I did not come up with it. Sometime within the past couple of years I was listening to a preacher who commented that someone he knew concluded his letters with the phrase, “His servant and yours,”. As soon as I heard that I knew that’s the way I wanted to end my correspondence.

The phrase denotes two things in particular. First, it indicates that we are in service to the Master. Second, it shows the need to follow our Lord in service to others as well (John 13; Luke 10:29ff). What does serving the Lord and serving others look like?

How to Serve Your Master

When someone is in charge of your wellbeing, you tend to do what you can to ensure their happiness with your performance. At work you look to your boss. At school you follow your teacher’s guidelines. In life you should obey the law. As a Christian how do we make God happy? We please Him by serving Him.

Consider two options. You can marry someone who loves you and would do anything for you, versus marrying someone who you pay to be your spouse. One is your spouse because they are getting something out of it, the other is your spouse because they don’t want to live without you. Which one would be a better mate? Of course the one who wants to be with you of their own accord.

Who makes the better servant? The person who serves the master out of constraint, getting something out of it, or the one who freely serves? It is of course the latter. God wants willing servants in His kingdom. Paul was one such willing servant, who wrote, “I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to His service.”

One of the greatest examples of willing service comes from the Old Testament in Exodus 21. The law was given that a Hebrew servant would be set free on the 7th year. If the servant has gained anything (even family) from his master, he can leave, but he must leave everything he gained. Look at what Exodus 21:5-6 say,”

But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.

God wants a willing servant. A willing servant is much more fruitful than any other. He or she will follow the masters will and love him for it (1 John 5:3). He or she will meditate on His word (Psa. 1:2). He or she will serve him all the days of their life (Psa. 27:4).

How to Serve Others

What does it look like to serve others? Is it the same as serving God? No. It just doesn’t have the same intent or authority. We follow the Lord and serve Him according to His will. When we serve our fellowman we do it to glorify God. True we should esteem others higher than ourselves (Phil. 2:3) and remember that we put others before ourselves (Mark 9:35; Phil. 2:4; Gal. 5:13), but we need to do this for the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 says, “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Seeing this verse we need to make sure that we are not serving ourselves (taking glory for ourselves) by serving others, but that we give God the glory. Our motivation should be the giving of ourselves (Acts 20:35) to other people to supply their needs; all of the while knowing that our Lord came to serve (Matt. 20:28). If we wish to be like Jesus, then we need to serve others. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (John 13) to show them (and us) that we ought to serve one another.

His servant and yours,

Matt McBrayer

Don't Raise an Ahaz

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4 When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...

Abijah and Totality

Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam (also Abijah) over Judah.Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 15:1-3 Do you ever wonder how someone who gets things mostly right can still be so wrong? It is mind-boggling if we do not consider that God judges man in totality. From our text above, it is hard to see anything good that can be said about Abijam (Abijah) son of Rehoboam. After all, it is evident that he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. So where do we learn the details? 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 gives us further evidence of Abijah’s issues. We know he i...

Jehoram and Accent

Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 Ch 21:5-6 Regional accents are quite interesting when you consider all their quirks and differences from each other. However, as one who has lived in varying locations and cultures in the United States, my accent is sort of all over the place. When I was visiting some family in Eastern Arkansas, my cousin correctly introduced me as my cousin Ryan from Texas. However, the young lady to whom he introduced me said, "You're from Texas?" I affirmed yes. To which she replied, “You don't sound like you're from Texas.” Maybe it was the fact that I grew up right on the Rio Grande or maybe this girl just e...

Ironworks

Search This Blog