Purpose Driven Life Day 34: Thinking Like A Servant

Numbers 14:24

But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to and his descendants will inherit it.

Philippians 2:5

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Service starts in your mind
To be a servant requires a mental shift, a change in your attitude. Attitudes count more than achievements.

Real servants serve God with a mindset of 5 attitudes:
1. Servants think more about others than about themselves
This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. They are self-forgetful. 

Philippians 2:4

Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.

When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around us.

We can measure our servant heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants. How we react when you're taken for granted, bossed around or treated as an inferior?

Matthew 5:41

If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.

2. Servants think like stewards, not owners
Servants remember that God owns it all. In the Bible, a steward was a servant entrusted to manage an estate. Servanthood and stewardship go together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. 

1 Corinthians 4:2

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

How are you handling the resources God has entrusted to you?

To become a real servant, you are going to have to settle the issue of money in your life. 

Luke 16:13

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Living for ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Which one will you choose?
All your time belongs to God. He insists on exclusive allegiance, not part-time faithfulness. When Jesus is your Master, money serves you; but if money is your master, you because its slave. Wealth is not a sink but failing to use it for God's glory is.

The Bible is very clear: God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant. That is why Jesus talked more about money than He did about either heaven or hell.

Luke 16:11

So, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doingThey don't compare, criticize or compare with other servants or ministries. They're too busy doing the work God has given them.

Galatians 5:26

We will not compare ourselves with each other as is one of us were better and another worst. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Real servants don't complaint of unfairness, don't have pity-parties and don't resent those not serving. They just trust God and keep serving. It is not our job to evaluate the Master's other servants. It is also not our job to defend ourselves against criticism. Let your Master handle it.
I you serve like Jesus, you can expect to b criticized. The world and even much of the church, does not understand what God values. Your service for Chriet us never wasted regardless of what others say.

4. Servants base their identity in ChristBecause they remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth. If you're going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ. Only secure people can serve. Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others.

2 Corinthians 10:18

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one when the Lord commends.

The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.

5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligationThey enjoy helping people, meeting needs and doing ministry. They serve with gladness because they love the Lord, they'e grateful for His grace, they know serving I the highest use of life, and they know God has promised a reward.

John 12:26

Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.

Hebrews 6:10

God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.

Imagine what could happen if jut 10% of all Christians in the world got serious about their role as real servants. Imagine all the good that could be done. Are you willing to be one of these people?
It doesn't matter what your age is, God will use you if you will begin to act and think like a servant.

Point to ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.

Verse to remember: Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the sane as that of Christ Jesus.

Questions to consider:
Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?