Monday Meditation – Servant - 4/24/2023

When I think of the word “servant,” I usually first think of a domestic employee. You know, someone who is required to do things for others, typically as part of their job. Years ago, it was very common for upper-class households to have many servants to take care of every conceivable need. And sadly, often people were kept as slaves to do that work with very little or no pay at all.

And there are many people who serve us today who are not our employees. We are served at restaurants, in stores, by our delivery people and by those whom we hire to do various work for us. I am fortunate to be able to hire people periodically to do specialty repairs and cleaning around my house, although I still take care of most of this kind of work myself. And I am very grateful for the services I receive.

I was thinking this past week about how often I have played the role of servant. I guess I did a lot of that when my children were growing up, and also in the various jobs I have held over the years. Now as a retiree, I am sometimes able to help my sons with their children, and I serve as a volunteer in several capacities.

If you asked me why I am a servant these days, I’d tell you it certainly is not for the money - I get very little of that from my volunteer positions! But I do get a certain satisfaction knowing that I am helping others. Plus, service is what God asks us to do.

God calls us to follow Jesus, and Jesus was the epitome of a servant. On Holy Thursday he performed one of the lowliest functions in his time – washing the feet of his disciples, and he told them they must be a servant, too. Then He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us – giving his entire life on the cross so that we may have salvation. What a wonderful servant he was!

I did some searching and discovered that the word “servant” (and its variations) appears in the Bible 1068 times (more or less, depending on your particular translation.) Wow! Here is one of those passages: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) And here is another: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10)

Are you following in Jesus’ footsteps and being a servant to your fellow man? I encourage you today to think about how you have been a servant lately, and to do at least one or two things outside your normal routine as a servant to someone else this week. You will be blessing them, and you might find a blessing for yourself.

Have a blessed Monday!

Faye

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