What comes to your mind when you hear the word “servant” and how would you describe it?
Servant is a person who performs duties for others, such as a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal assistant, a person employed in the service of a government, a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.
What does a servant do?
A servant works at someone’s home, often doing basic tasks. If you’re a servant, you serve someone else.
Today we are going to learn on How to be a good servant of God and people.
What does Jesus say about serving God and people?
Let’s read John 13:5, 12-15
5 Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.
12 So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is who I am.
14 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.
15 For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.
John 13:5, 12-15
In John 13:15, Jesus sets an example for us to follow. After washing His disciples’ feet — an act of love, humility, and service — He encourages us to follow His lead and serve one another. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you,” Jesus says
How can we be a good servant of God and people?
1 – Put God and his kingdom first, be connected with him every day through prayer.
2 – Serving God and people with love, dedication, devotion and passion.
3 – Working tireless for God’s kingdom.
4 – Love God, serve him and the people around you with all our heart, strength, love and understanding, if we do that, we are going to obey the greatest commandment.
Martin Luther said:
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther
If we say that we love God but do not love and do not serve people, our faith has no value!
The Theme of the Year 2023 (That God gave to our Pastor Marcio) is: Live to Love!
This year we will talk a lot about Loving and Serving people! For if we do not serve and are not servants, we are not loving God!
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45
We have all been called to be foot-washers. Serving and loving God, to a certain point is easy, because He is our creator and Lord! But loving and serving people, “washing each other’s feet” is not so easy! Jesus said we need to wash each other’s feet. This is being a servant!
In the times of Jesus, washing the feet of visitors was the service of the employees and many of them were slaves who lived in the houses. Jesus did the most humble work that only slaves would have done.
After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus said: now you do the same!
Example:
My pastors have been a great example of servants.
All the time when we are having our Shalom total, our Pastors encourage us not to eat first, they always say we must let our guests eat first, you will never ever see them eating first, they always ate at the end of Shalom total, that is to be a good servant of God and people. Please let us follow their example of serving God and people.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10
Brothers and sisters, I encourage you and I to never give up in doing good because God will reward us at the proper time. I know is not easy, because sometimes people will not respond to what we do for them, please let’s forgive them because they don’t know always what they are doing, and the Bible says everything we do we must do it for the Lord not for men.
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.
Colossians 3:23
So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.
Luke 23:34
To be a good servant of God and people we must start at our own house, in our church, in our community, at our work place, in our school and so on.
Example
At my house
I am serving my family every day, I collect all the garbage inside of the house and take it out to the main bin in my back yard I do it every day with love, and some time I wash the dishes, I do the laundry and help in some house’s work as well.
In the church
Some brothers and sisters are serving tea and coffee in Church on Sunday service, others are receiving people and welcoming them at the door, others are working on the sound system and media and when we are having an event, some will cook for it, and all this is to be a good servant of God and people. Brothers and sisters, I beg you please in the name of Jesus let us follow their example.
At the community
I encourage you and me to serve people in our community, to always be nice, honest, kind, polite and loving with people, and in doing that we are going to show Jesus’ love and people will come to Him, that is our duty as a servant of God.
I serve people in my community and in St Patrick’s Accommodation Centre, helping, assisting, supporting, advocating and linking them in with local, national and international agencies.
At our work place
As good servants of God, we must be the best workers at our work place, obey all the rules and regulations established form our employers. Remember that you are there not only to make money but to spread the gospel and bring salvation to the lost.
At school
As a good servant of God, we must be the best students and obey all the rules and regulations established by our School. We must serve and help other students, preach the gospel and invite them to our services.
Conclusion
What is the role of a great servant leader of God?
A great servant leader of God helps others, puts the needs of others first, helps individuals develop and optimise performance, is willing to learn from others, and forsakes personal advancement and rewards because of God and His kingdom. A great servant leaders of God concentrates on performance planning, day-to-day coaching, and helping people to please God and to achieve their goals and dreams.
Jesus is a great servant leader of God to follow because he loved us first, he left His kingdom and came on the earth to serve not to be served and he died for me, for you and all for all mankind.
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
God called us to serve others. And serving doesn’t have to be difficult – if we do all things with love, then serving others will be a joyful experience.
Reminder
What did you learn today?
Who is the greatest servant of God in all universe and why must we follow his example?
What should we do to be a good servant of God?
In which place should we start serving God and people first and why?
What must we do to please God every day in our lives?
Challenges and recommendations
1 – We must discipline ourselves everyday by getting up earlier to have a special time with God.
2 – We must set a time and agenda for all our church activities : The meeting of your Cell (if you do not participate, you are disconnected from the most important meeting of this church). Bible Study and prayer on Saturdays. Biblical School (Conquerors’ School) – if you did not do it, you need to do it – because there you will learn the Biblical principles and grow in the knowledge of the Scriptures.
3 – We must study the Bible every day at least twice, in getting up and before going to bed.
4 – We must set our goals and write them down.
5 – We must be great servants like Jesus following his example.
6 – We must attend all services in the church and take notes on Sunday service.
“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”
Hebrews 6:10 NLT
Remember that everything we do for God, He will not forget your work and you will be rewarded for every investment in the kingdom of God.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, Jesus loves you all so much and so do I. Have a blessed week you all and see you all next Sunday.