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Attributes
of a Servant of God
Jesus took seriously
the command from Deuteronomy to “worship the Lord your God and
serve Him only.” (Luke 4:8) This parallel command strikes me
as interesting in that worship and service go hand and hand. When
I worship God I am also called to serve Him. What does it mean to
be a servant of God? How should I serve Him? In answer, three attributes
of servanthood come to mind.
Available—As
a servant of the Lord, I must be available to be used by Him in
the service of His kingdom. Like the boy with the five barley loaves
and two fish, my meager resources often seem insignificant to meet
the needs of God’s people. But like the boy who made his lunch available
to Jesus (John 6:1-14), I’ve found that when I offer my meager resources,
God’s grace multiplies the blessings to others. The young boy willingly
gave his lunch and Jesus took the unselfish offering and used it
to feed thousands.
What does God ask of me? As his servant and steward I find myself
called to offer the resource he has entrusted to me, be it finances,
time, energy, intellect, a listening ear or an encouraging word.
An important aspect of availability is maintaining margin in my
schedule so that when the Lord calls me to service I can freely
answer. If I overbook my schedule with work or activities, even
with good things, I may find myself weighed down and exhausted when
God given opportunities arise.
Alert—A faithful servant is not only available
but also alert and watches while waiting for the bidding of the
master. I must listen for His voice and follow His lead when He
calls me to a need or area of service. Careful study of the Word
and regular prayer nurture an attitude of watchfulness and awareness.
The call of the Lord is not always obvious, but I’ve found Him faithful
to reveal His will over time.
A watchful servant employs patience. Jesus used the following parable
to encourage this attitude in his disciples as they wait for His
promised return."No one knows about that day or hour, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be
on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's
like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants
in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the
door to keep watch.
"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner
of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do
not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone:
'Watch!'" (Mark 13:32-37)
Obedient—God calls me to a variety of tasks to
be accomplished for the furthering of His kingdom and the praise
of His glory. A good servant obediently accepts any job the Lord
sets before him. Jesus calls me to serve in ways usually consistent
with my spiritual gifts and talents. Pride could hinder the Lord’s
work if a I were to exalt myself and refuse to help with tasks I
feel are below me. Especially as a servant-leader, I should be willing
to set up tables or clean Sunday school cabinets as quickly as I
would speak to hundreds of people in God’s service.
Not only should a servant be obedient to do anything, she should
be willing to do nothing if that is what the Lord requires. Sometimes
a servant’s only task is to do nothing but watch and wait for the
master’s call. Have you asked the Lord to give you something more
to do for Him—something big? As you wait for that something big,
seek to serve Him and grow in your Christian walk. Remain content
with where he has put you, while continuing to watch for his leading.
Stand before Him available to do anything He might require of you,
alert to His guidance, and ready to walk in obedience to His will.
Cyndie Hamley
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