Heart of a Servant

A mind to serve

MK. 10:32-45.

we want to be great

we want to be elevated in the sight of others

we want to have the best place.

We either seek to serve ourselves or we seek to serve others In Matthew 6, the Lord stated it this way, “No one is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. No one is able to serve God and possessions” (Matt. 6:24). When we serve money, we are really serving ourselves and our own desires for what we think money will purchase like significance, power, pleasure, security, or status. Money is not evil and having it is not evil, but if it becomes our master, it controls our values, priorities, and pursuits rather than God, and that is evil (see 1 Tim. 6:8-10).

I just want the crumbs off of the table.

Who are the great? servants. that's backwards in the eyes of the world.

Jesus came to serve, He came to sacrifice. Service requires sacrifice

Philippians 2:3–8 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

1 Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 23:11–12 ““But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” We see again that one of the greatest hindrances to service or servant living is the desire for some form of exaltation—position, praise, prestige, and power. Those who take the secular route so typical of the world and who exalt themselves will eventually be humbled.

Luke 22:24–30 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” This scene presents a graphic picture of how preoccupation with self-centered interests (position, praise, and acceptance by others) ruins our capacity to even properly worship and relate to the person and work of the Savior. Because they were seeking their happiness and significance by trying to manage their own affairs they were blinded to what He was seeking to teach them and to what His life meant to them.

A example of service

John 13:1-17.

Having pointed to His actions as an example for them, Christ then drove home an inescapable lesson, here defined as a “solemn truth.” If He, their master and the One they worshipped, assumed the role of a servant to minister to others, then certainly they must likewise take the towel of servanthood as a minister to others rather than seek to elevate themselves. Ironically, and contrary to the thinking of the world, true blessing comes in serving others.

John 13:15

John 13:15v NASB95

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

v. 15 example - pattern, model, imitation, copy.

APPLICATION

How to cultivate a heart of a servant (5 ATTITUDES)

availability - keep your schedule unburdened enough to where you are able to answer the call to serve. You must let God interfere with your schedule as he needs. It is not truly serving when you feel like it or it is convenient. Will you let God work in your life?

perceptiveness - always be looking for ways to serve. Have an eye for it. Be on the look out. Look for small unnoticeable task that need to be done

dedication - they do the best they can no matter the circumstances. Don’t wait for better timing or tools. They jump right in and get to work. Thoughts don’t get it done. it doesn’t have to perfect or you don’t have to be an expert. No service is beneath them, no service to small. Jesus washed feet, helped lepers, and made food for his disciples.

reliability - servants are dependable. They do what they say they will. servants are steadfast, trustworthy, and reliable.

humility - servants don’t need to be praised for their service. They don’t have to be seen