“Too many chiefs and not enough Indians”; a common paraphrase, not referring to our Native American friends, but rather making the statement, “Too many bosses and not enough workers”. It seems that not many people care to be told what to do but most everyone enjoys being served by others.

Is serving or being served a new concept? Not at all. It dates back to the beginning of time. God made the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-14) and then it says in Genesis 2:15, “And the Lord God took the man (Adam) and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it”. God placed Adam as the first servant to tend this garden. You may ask, was he a servant? Webster’s defines servant as, “A person devoted to another or to a cause, creed, etc.” In this sense Adam was the servant, the cause was tending the Garden of Eden.

Next in line was Eve, who was created to be Adam’s companion (wife); Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” “One flesh” tells me that they are equal which makes both of them servants, only with different duties as stated in Ephesians 5:22, 25; “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord…Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”

In Luke 7, we are told of a sinful woman washing Jesus’ feet (verses 37, 38): “And behold a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” This was a classic display of service. A sinner touching and washing the Son of God’s feet in a Pharisee’s house. Wow! If you don’t know in those days, a Pharisee considered himself the closest to a perfect follower of God of all people; better than others. Also, in John 4, we are told of a Samaritan woman, considered not worthy of even talking to a Jew in those days, being at a well where Jesus asked for a drink of water. I’m not sure if she served Him water, but she did serve others from her village so that they, too, could experience the “living water” that Jesus told about in John 4:13-14; “Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘Whosoever drinketh of the water I shall give him (living water) shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” It goes on and tells of the woman living with a man but not being married to him and how she ran to her village and told others. They followed her back to meet the one she was told to be the Messias called Christ (verses 25-26): “The woman saith unto him, ‘I know the Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things’. Jesus saith unto her, ‘I that speak unto thee am he’ “.

There are accounts of many others being servants in the Holy Bible. King David was a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:15; “But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”) before becoming king (2 Samuel 2:4; “And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah…”)

Another was Joseph (son of Jacob), a shepherd (Genesis 37:2) and a slave (Gen. 37:18-28). Later, he was a most powerful ruler of Egypt who controlled the food stock. His service saved many (Gen. 41:5-7); “And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was so sore in all lands.” These are just a few examples of servants in the Holy Bible. There are many more throughout God’s word.

We’ve mentioned servants of all types, genders, nationalities and marital status. Single men and women; married men and women; men and women of different nationalities and sinful men and women. We have covered all areas of humanity except the perfect or sinless of the world.

We know only one who fits this criteria; Jesus Christ. In John 13:4-5, “He (Jesus) riseth for supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.” “After that, he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” Yes, even Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God as a man, was a servant. For in Mark 10:45 Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus was not only a servant to people but most importantly to God.

What about a perfect woman? None in the Bible are said to be perfect (sinless), but I believe Mary was close. It says in Luke 1:28, “And the angel came in unto her (Mary) and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” To be chosen to be the Savior’s mother I consider to be most respectable, especially being favored by God among all women. But was she a servant? Luke 1:38 says, “And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid (servant) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.’ “ Handmaid actually comes from the Greek word, “doule” which means a female slave. These slaves considered it an honor to serve their masters. They did it by their own choice, not by any outside forced persuasion.

Now we have seen all forms of humanity in the role of servant. But is this required or necessary, according to God’s word? In Mark 10:44, Jesus states while talking to His disciples, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest (desires to be first), shall be servant of all.” Also, it says in Psalms 34:22, “The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them who trust in him shall be desolate.” There are benefits that go along with serving God and every one of His creations.

Simply put, since we all like others to serve us, let’s put Matthew 7:12 into perspective; as Jesus said, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” That’s right; once again, we turn to the “Golden Rule” for peace and coexistence among everyone.

So tell God you’re a sinner, that you believe Jesus Christ (His Son) died on the cross for you to be set free from your sins and ask for forgiveness. Now read and follow the word of God (Holy Bible) and, not most important, but I feel especially needed to better our society, don’t turn your back on other believers or non-believers. But rather serve them in whatever capacity you are able to do. God bless all!

 

Jeff Long lives in Salisbury.