Service Check-up: How's your servant's heart?

From Rick Warren's Daily Devotional for June 28: "We Serve God by Serving Others." Our congregation needs to individually consider their status as a servant because it will allow us to find our calling, our niche, and will allow us to be very efficient with our time and resources.

Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.

While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs.

God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, “I don’t have the gift of mercy or service.”

While you may not be gifted for a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one who is gifted at it is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment.

Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.

It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant’s heart.

How can you know if you have the heart of a servant?

Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV).

Take time when you are brushing your teeth, or washing dishes, or some other activity that doesn't take too much brain power and pray for God to help you pursue your line of service.  Also pray for the members of our church family and community to be worthy servants. 
 
Here's your challenge for the week: Look at what others do to be servants.  Explain what you can do or did do when your servant's heart is tested.  I'll try to blog daily on this topic for the rest of the week in addition to any other topics.
 
Peace,
Jonas