"A True Servant's Heart!"

So much of who we are and what we do for God is "camouflaged" by the reality of our selfish nature as human beings; we just don't love naturally!

A "true servant" is one who has no regard for himself "in the service" itself.  In other words, the gratification of "just going" and "just doing" what God has instructed him/her to do is (gratification) enough!

What manner of man or woman does this? This is an unusual spirit in this current age of narcissism (self-love).  How can we get increased participation from the institutional church (IC) to engage and empower people in the marketplace?  Of course, we have the example of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary, but I'd have to say, based upon the lack of "fruit" or "evidence" being produced by the IC, the sacrifice of our Lord has become just another "good story."

Natural love expects some return, but Paul says – I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may also provoke you to actively pursue an intimate relationship with God. The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men.

Jesus Christ was the ultimate "quantum mechanic". In other words, He was exactly sure of where God would place us in "time" and what our assignments would be. He says that in His Kingdom, the greatest among us is the servant of all. The real test of the believer is not preaching the gospel, but washing the feet of God's people in the marketplace, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. These things do not make make men famous, but bring glory to God.

The true servant will empty himself out for God’s interests in other people, and he does not care what it costs. He/she welcomes the notion that it will indeed cost him/her something.  Moreover, if it does not have a high cost associated with it; it doesn't count as MINISTRY.  If the assignment has a low cost connected to it, it is probably an ACTIVITY...there is a profound difference between the two!

We come in with our economical notions – "Suppose God wants me to go there – what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things." All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine (communion) in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.