Oftentimes, I hear people misusing the concept of the servant’s heart we hear about in the Bible. As I know the majority of people reading this will be Christians, I decided I would write about a topic that addressed another common misconception in our Biblical worldview. The servant’s heart is a concept that is talked about often in the Bible. Christ presents himself as a servant multiple times, not just in words, but also in his actions. When we are told by others that we should act Christ like, they are likely referring to the servitude that Christ displays throughout the verses of the New Testament.
The misconception in our world is that servitude means giving up everything you can in order to make sure everyone else is happy or content, while leaving yourself dry and worn. Over the years, as I developed through the spiritual gifts I've been given, I've found that my most prominent is that of servitude. When I talk to someone about this, I feel as though there is an amount of confusion that follows. People don’t know what it means to truly be a servant and, to be quite honest, I don’t always know, either.
Having the heart of a servant means that we should be looking for the positions in life which can benefit others, regardless of how it may affect us. This isn't the definition most think of when referring to a servant. As someone who finds himself in the role of a servant more often than not, it has been on my heart to discuss this pivotal difference. Servitude is not just how one acts in certain situations, but is seeing the needs of others in everyday life. Serving is an act of allowing someone else to be built up through your efforts.
Aside from Christ, there is one story in history that has really stuck out to me as the best example of a heart to serve others. In Dutch myth, there was a king who reigned over his land with a firm hand and an unwavering love for his country. At his passing, the head adviser to the king took control of the country and sent out messengers in all directions in search of the next kin to the beloved king. Years passed, and no one was found.
Finally, after two decades of waiting and ruling, the next relative to the king was found. The moment this young man of 26 entered the throne room, the head adviser saw him and wept. After falling to the floor and weeping at the man’s feet, the head adviser held a ceremony to crown the man as the new king. The adviser had dedicated his life and his ruling to finding the situation where he could raise another higher than himself. He didn’t sacrifice his life or his reputation, as he was still noted as one of the greatest kings to have ruled, but he knew what he wanted from his life and his rule. Serving the last king by finding the new one was his goal, but in doing so, he also was elevated to a high position.
This story is one of great servitude, as the adviser lived his life searching for the opportunity to serve his great king one last time and serve his new king for the first time. Servitude to this man was finding the next king, and servitude to us is about pointing the world to our King. To serve is to serve Christ, not the expectations of this world. We need to be looking to the opportunities to serve the God who saved us, instead draining ourselves for the betterment of a world that is fallen.
