A
Serving Servant
By Brita Crouse
"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1
Peter 4:11 (NIV)
Let’s
play a game. Can you name this quote? (Hint: Think Disney Princess movie.)
"Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving."
"Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving."
This
quote is taken from a song in a movie, made by a globally recognized company,
and sung by a candlestick. [1] Not a very likely place to find Christian truth,
but there it is.
I was
originally made aware of this quote by a friend who is an avid fan of this
particular movie. Then I listened to this song for myself and was struck by how
much truth is woven throughout the lyrics. Life IS unnerving for a servant who
isn’t serving!
There
are times when we aren’t obedient to God. We have days when we aren’t living
our lives as He intended. There are moments when our heart doesn’t desire God’s
plan and purpose for us. We have seasons when our mind isn’t set on the
thoughts of God, but on our own selfish desires and motivations. We have times
when we don’t use our God-given gifts and times when we don’t recognize our
gifts are from God. Life can seem uncertain, and even hopeless, during those
times and it feels unnerving because we aren’t serving God!
Thankfully,
we have examples of serving servants and are given the tools to live like that
ourselves. We see it in the actions of God’s own Son, Jesus, during His time on
earth. We see it in the lives of the disciples, even though they too had their
“human moments.” There’s Moses, Mary, Esther, Joseph, and Paul; all with human
faults, but all willing to serve their God and serve those around them. Their
lives were rich and full, but certainly not easy.
Living
the life of a serving servant is rewarding and fulfilling, but it does not come
without challenges. Yet, God promises to give us the strength we need to live a
servant’s life. He has given each of us unique gifts, and presents us with
opportunities to serve using those special gifts. All our thoughts, actions,
and words should reflect those of a serving servant because what good is a
servant who doesn’t serve?
So,
if you ever feel unnerved, maybe you need to serve!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Who do you need to start serving?
2. Where do you need to start serving? (Home,
church, work, your community, etc.)
FURTHER
READING:
[1]
Still not sure? It’s Disney’s Beauty and
the Beast!
Brita recently graduated from Taylor
University with a degree in Psychology, and is currently a helper for Oakwood’s
Quest 56 and the Just Among Moms weekly childcare team.