The Servant-Heart
How would you
define a servant-heart? What is a
servant-heart? What attributes must a
servant’s heart have? The other side of
the coin is the one who is being served – what attributes must they have? What kind of bond does a servant and the one
who is served grows?
define a servant-heart? What is a
servant-heart? What attributes must a
servant’s heart have? The other side of
the coin is the one who is being served – what attributes must they have? What kind of bond does a servant and the one
who is served grows?
For the past
three years, I have been the recipient of serving and have learned first hand
what serving is all about. It has given
me a deep awareness of the make-up of a servant. Their attributes begin with humility, love,
understanding heart and a good listening ear – listening to God.
three years, I have been the recipient of serving and have learned first hand
what serving is all about. It has given
me a deep awareness of the make-up of a servant. Their attributes begin with humility, love,
understanding heart and a good listening ear – listening to God.
To serve with a
right motivation does not include self-glory.
To serve grudgingly is not the right attitude. Willingness to humble
one’s self is the road to servant-heart.
The servant-hood pathway is filled with rocks to stumble through of
heartache and often disappointment and being unappreciated.
right motivation does not include self-glory.
To serve grudgingly is not the right attitude. Willingness to humble
one’s self is the road to servant-heart.
The servant-hood pathway is filled with rocks to stumble through of
heartache and often disappointment and being unappreciated.
Once I came to
the conclusion that my children have taught me how to be a better parent. From the Saturday work day question – “Mom,
if you come and clean up our room after we do, why should we work at it?” And on the way to church – “Mom, why do you always
yell when you get us ready for church and when we get there, you just smile and
smile?” And now I remember and it shapes
my understanding of caregiving for my dear husband with Dementia. Being a servant with the right attitude is
difficult when the ‘me-pride’ gets in the way.
the conclusion that my children have taught me how to be a better parent. From the Saturday work day question – “Mom,
if you come and clean up our room after we do, why should we work at it?” And on the way to church – “Mom, why do you always
yell when you get us ready for church and when we get there, you just smile and
smile?” And now I remember and it shapes
my understanding of caregiving for my dear husband with Dementia. Being a servant with the right attitude is
difficult when the ‘me-pride’ gets in the way.
When my children
learned of the diagnosis of Lewy Body-Dementia of their father, they came and
took the burden away from our shoulders, helping us to make decisions and prepare
for selling our home of 38 years to move.
First our youngest son came. Tim
walked through our house and told me to think ‘down-size’. He showed me what I could keep and what
should be sold or given away. (This is
the son who couldn’t decide what kind of Dairy Queen cone to get on Mother’s
Day!) Then came our daughter from
California. She removed all the family
pictures down from the walls and packed them away in boxes. Then came our oldest son and his wife plus
our youngest son and his wife and sold furniture to second hand store, gave
away clothes, and packed extra dishes, books and trinkets away. They worked in
the yard and readied that. Then came the second son and his wife who painted
the interior of the garage, organized the shed and the back porch. Church family came and helped pack, too.
learned of the diagnosis of Lewy Body-Dementia of their father, they came and
took the burden away from our shoulders, helping us to make decisions and prepare
for selling our home of 38 years to move.
First our youngest son came. Tim
walked through our house and told me to think ‘down-size’. He showed me what I could keep and what
should be sold or given away. (This is
the son who couldn’t decide what kind of Dairy Queen cone to get on Mother’s
Day!) Then came our daughter from
California. She removed all the family
pictures down from the walls and packed them away in boxes. Then came our oldest son and his wife plus
our youngest son and his wife and sold furniture to second hand store, gave
away clothes, and packed extra dishes, books and trinkets away. They worked in
the yard and readied that. Then came the second son and his wife who painted
the interior of the garage, organized the shed and the back porch. Church family came and helped pack, too.
I watched the
servant-hearts in action as one son drove us to our new home, another son drove
the truck with our furniture, and three sons helped moved things in the
house. It seemed sweet that our church
family for over 40 years helped us get ready to leave and our new church family
met us – helping to unpack with our family – including two daughters-in-law, a
granddaughter and a grandson to be.
Servant-heartedness didn’t stop there.
Finding a place to live, attending to many details of settling… is how
our third son and wife bless us. They do
all the little things around our home, we cannot attend to any longer. Their
lives are changed because of the added sacrifice of love. Our oldest son died of a brain cancer early
in 2014, and our second son and daughter stay in contact daily through emails
and messaging. They define Servant-Hearts
to me. Love, Compassion and Self-Sacrifice. There is more.
servant-hearts in action as one son drove us to our new home, another son drove
the truck with our furniture, and three sons helped moved things in the
house. It seemed sweet that our church
family for over 40 years helped us get ready to leave and our new church family
met us – helping to unpack with our family – including two daughters-in-law, a
granddaughter and a grandson to be.
Servant-heartedness didn’t stop there.
Finding a place to live, attending to many details of settling… is how
our third son and wife bless us. They do
all the little things around our home, we cannot attend to any longer. Their
lives are changed because of the added sacrifice of love. Our oldest son died of a brain cancer early
in 2014, and our second son and daughter stay in contact daily through emails
and messaging. They define Servant-Hearts
to me. Love, Compassion and Self-Sacrifice. There is more.
I turn to God’s
Word and find the Servant-Heart in I Samuel 3:10 – And the Lord came
and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak,
your servant is listening.
Word and find the Servant-Heart in I Samuel 3:10 – And the Lord came
and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak,
your servant is listening.
Hebrews 11
contains a list of those who possessed humble hearts and willingness to listen
to God and serve Him only with faith in the LORD God. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Daniel, Jepthah, David,
Samuel and all the prophets.
contains a list of those who possessed humble hearts and willingness to listen
to God and serve Him only with faith in the LORD God. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Daniel, Jepthah, David,
Samuel and all the prophets.
Add to the
Servant-Heart list, Mary. Luke 1:38 – Mary
responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you
have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Servant-Heart list, Mary. Luke 1:38 – Mary
responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you
have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Luke 16:13 – “No one
can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be
devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Joshua said this in a different way. “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be
devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Joshua said this in a different way. “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Who has the ultimate and
far-reaching servant-heart through the ages?
Jesus Christ the Only Son of God.
far-reaching servant-heart through the ages?
Jesus Christ the Only Son of God.
Philippians 2:5-11 – You must have the same attitude that Christ
Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave
up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human
being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in
obedience to God, and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore,
God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above
all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave
up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human
being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in
obedience to God, and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore,
God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above
all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How can we become Servant-Hearted with Faith in God?
Matthew 20:26 – But
among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be
your servant.
among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be
your servant.
Deuteronomy 10:12
– “And now, Israel, what
does the Lord your God
require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and
love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.” Fear, respect the LORD, live the way that pleases God and love Him with
all your heart, soul and mind, and serve Him with all your heart and soul. That includes the elements of humility,
trust, faith, joy and fulfillment.
Living to the utmost is living daily with tentacles of understanding and
sensitivity to the needs of others.
– “And now, Israel, what
does the Lord your God
require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and
love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.” Fear, respect the LORD, live the way that pleases God and love Him with
all your heart, soul and mind, and serve Him with all your heart and soul. That includes the elements of humility,
trust, faith, joy and fulfillment.
Living to the utmost is living daily with tentacles of understanding and
sensitivity to the needs of others.
Romans
7:25 – Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the
law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
7:25 – Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the
law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
Matthew
25:21 – “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done,
my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small
amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate
together!’
25:21 – “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done,
my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small
amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate
together!’
Comments? eacombs@att.net