Thinking Like a Servant
Service starts in your mind.
Servants think more about others than about themselves. This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around us. You can't be a servant if you're full of yourself. It's only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
Real servants don't try to use God for their purposes. They let God use them for His purposes. We can measure our servant's heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants. How do you react when you're taken for granted, bossed around, or treated as an inferior?
Servants think like stewards, not owners. Servants remember that God owns it all. Servanthood and stewardship go together. 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. Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life. More people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else. They say, "After I achieve my financial goals, I'm going to serve God". Servants of God are always more concerned about ministry than money. How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life.
Servants think about their work, not what others are doing. They don't compare, criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries. They're too busy doing the work God has given them. They just trust God and keep serving.
Servants base their identity in Christ. Because they remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth. They willingly accept jobs that insecure people would consider "beneath" them. When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best. The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.
Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry. They love the Lord and are grateful for His grace, they know serving is the highest use of life, and they know God has promised a reward. It doesn't matter what your age is, God will use you if you will begin to act and think like a servant.
DAY THIRTY-FOUR
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE
Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.
Verse to Remember: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
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