Philippians: Learning to LIVE AS a Servant
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As a way to get us started this morning, let’s recap a couple of items...last week, we learned that in the Book of Acts, chapter 16, Luke records the roots of this church in Philippi. What is written here in the letter comes from the writings of Paul, nearly 10 years later, while in prison in Rome, to encourage the church he planted a decade before. Think of it: Paul is writing the letter from inside prison and he is encouraging those outside of prison. The people of that day needed encouragement because persecution was becoming an everyday part of life. But we need encouragement, too. Perhaps we do not face the kind of persecution that the early church faced or that the church in China or Iran faces these days, but as individuals we have all certainly faced times of testing and trial. This letter, Philippians, is God’s instruction to us about how to live during tough times. Last week, we specifically talked about how to truly live as if God really is in control of our lives rather than us trying to control every aspect of life. It is difficult to release that control in our lives but it is something that we must do...
So, this week, we turn our attention onto what we have as the second chapter of this letter and spend some time contemplating what it means to have true character and live as servants.
What Does it Mean to be a Servant?
What Does it Mean to be a Servant?
So, when we begin to think about being servants…what does this truly mean to you? What does it mean to be a servant of God? What does it mean to be a servant to others? What does it mean when we say, “we are here to serve”? What does that truly look like?
Allow space and time for answers…here’s what Paul says to the church
Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.
What does this mean to you?
Allow space and time for answers…Paul gives us clear instructions and I don’t think I really need to say too much more than what he wrote in this part of his letter to the church. It is clear that we are to live with a heart like Christ’s, do much of what Christ did, to the best of our ability, and then pass along the love we received from God to others so that they too can live a Christ-like life.
The important piece of allowing God to work through us is this…we are not to look out for our own well-being first but rather the well-being of others. When we talk about being servants, sometimes that comes in the physical approach of helping someone with their home or job or doing something physically for them (like Jesus stooping before the disciples to wash their feet). Sometimes serving others means providing a means for them to help themselves, like offering a position within the company we work or helping them to get employment in other ways. However, most of the time we are asked to provide financial assistance. Now, let me say this about giving…Jesus, I believe once taught:
No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters. If we allow our money situation to rule our hearts then we will never be a servant to anything but our money. This is a hard lesson to learn and it is one that we must all learn…if we are to prosper, we must learn to give up control and live as servants to others, no ourselves.
This is contrary to the world around us, I know but obviously it is worth the battle to learn to love in the right way…because if we can, Paul tells us:
Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!
Gladness follows…pure joy comes from being servants to others, not our own self interests. As we move into a time when we need to begin thinking of our own stewardship and how we survive on this little hill of ours, let us truly be good stewards of all of our resources and show the world that a tiny little church on the hill can make a huge difference!
Let us pray…Gracious God, forgive our greed and selfish desires and show us how we can be and do more for those who need what we have, Amen.