Many Answers⤒🔗

What in the world is a Christian? The Bible gives dif­ferent answers to that question. A Christian, it says, is a "child of God" (Roman 8:16). A Christian is an "heir" (Roman 8:17). A Christian is a "conqueror" – indeed, more than a conqueror (Rom 8:39). Then too Christians are "sheep" (John 10:1-18), "salt" (Matthew 5:13), "light" (Matthew 5:14), and "stars" (Philippians 2:15). In short, the Bible says that Christians are many things. There are any number of ways to de­scribe believers.

Such is, however, not just the testimony of the Scrip­tures, it is also the testimony of the Heidelberg Catechism. Lord's Day 12 states quite clearly that being a Christian is all about being a "prophet," a "priest," and a "king." All true believers are ordained into a three-fold office.

Now, it is good to be reminded of this, but at the same time we also need to admit that not all of these descrip­tions appeal to us in the same way. We may like the idea of being compared to an "heir" but we are not so excited about being likened to a "sheep." Receiving an inherit­ance from God and being called an heir to all things is a lofty title, but being a sheep – dumb, lowly, and destined for the butcher – has little appeal. In the same way be­ing "light" appeals to us. After all, who does not want to shine and be attractive? But being "salt"? Ugh! We iden­tify salt with kitchen duty, and thus get little or no boost out of being likened to it.

Who Wants to be a Servant?←⤒🔗

Hence while it is nice that God calls us so many dif­ferent things, our response to some of these names or descriptions is less than enthusiastic. And that applies to one more designation that we have not mentioned yet. It is that of being a "servant."

It too draws mixed reviews. Who really wants to be compared to a "servant?" Who is interested at being at the "beck and call" of others? Who wants to be on the receiving end of orders, instructions, tasks, and duties? We would much rather be "kings" than "servants." Being served is one thing, being a servant is something else altogether.

And yet that is what we are. Time and time again our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ mentions this. When some Greeks come calling and want to see Jesus, he responds by referring to death, life, and service.

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am my servant also will be.

Here our Lord is speaking about following him and puts it, not in terms of glory, power, and dominion, but in terms of serving him and being his servant. He even adds for emphasis, "My Father will honor the one who serves me" (John 12:26). It is clear here that honour comes not through major achievement but through humble service. Advancement is not limited to those who do great things for the Saviour but comes especially to those who labour faithfully for him in the trenches of his world, church, and kingdom.

In this connection the parable of the talents comes to mind as well. It's all about a man who calls his servants together and who then proceeds to give them different amounts of talents: five, two, and one (Matthew 25:14-30). The servants with five and two talents respectively do much with them, and as a result, they multiply. Five grow to ten. Two talents increase to four.

But there is also that fellow with just one talent, and he does nothing with it. He buries it. Later when the mas­ter returns, he digs it up again and hands it back. At least he has not cost his master anything.

Only note this is a parable about servants, talents, and doing something with those talents. They are supposed to be used, to be employed, to be put to work. They are not meant to be buried, shelved, or iced.

Hence a failure to use the talents that are given represents a failure of service and servanthood. This master does not need servants who play it safe and bury his money. Even the bank pays better dividends than they do.

Obviously, all of this is to be read with reference to God and us. What God wants to see in his kingdom are diligent kingdom work­ers, true servants. He wants people who are committed to working with his gifts and with the opportunities that he provides them. Our God wants real servants.

Our Servant Lord←⤒🔗

Does this surprise you? Does this go contrary to your expectations? Does this come across to you as demeaning? It shouldn't. Later on in the New Testament the Apostle Paul is led to reflect on the life and ministry of his Lord and Saviour and then, no doubt through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he frames that life and ministry within the context of servanthood. In Philippians 2 he reminds believers then and now that Christ is "in very nature God" (2:6). He is divine, exalted, supreme. He lives in light and glory. He possesses all power and majesty.

But then he did something to himself, something truly astounding. Paul writes that he "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" (2:7). How? By "being made in human likeness" (2:7). He became a man in order to serve man. God became a servant. The Creator became a creature.

What a surprise! What a demotion! What a come­down! Unthinkable and unheard of, is it not?

Only there is more. For Paul goes on and relates that our Lord became a very special kind of servant. He be­came a suffering servant. His service was at bottom a ser­vice of sacrifice and death. His service was cross service.

Thankfully it did not end there. For Paul also refers to the fact that after his death God the Father intervened and took back his Son, as it were. He exalted him again! He honoured him by giving him the greatest name in the universe and by promising him that one day every knee would bow before him and every tongue would confess him. What will people everywhere say about him? It will be this:

Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:11

Our Model←⤒🔗

Now, it is fundamental to the gospel that we believe and embrace all of this. But something else is also fun­damental. What is it? It is the words that introduce this demotion and promotion of our Saviour. Read verse 5 slowly and intently: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." What attitude? Why, his attitude of service!

At bottom there is no reason for a Christian to be un­comfortable with being called a "servant," for in so doing he or she is simply following in the footsteps of their Lord and Master. Our Saviour did not point his nose in the air when he heard the name "servant" or the word "service." He did not walk away in a huff. Rather he embraced both the name and the word. He did so totally, deeply, and utterly.

In response Paul says that we need to learn from this and we need to embrace servanthood as well. We need to understand clearly that our Lord is calling us as Chris­tians to be his servants. He wants us to take on a life of selfless service.

Searching Questions←⤒🔗

All of this, of course, begs the question, "Do you see yourself as a servant? Is your life today a life of ser­vice?" Many years ago John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States and in his speech there was one line that stood out. It was this: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?" In the same vein it needs to be asked, "What are you doing for your God, for his Son, for his church, for his kingdom and for his world?"

Unfortunately, I see people who call themselves Christians, but their whole attitude is one of consump­tion, of self-centredness, of striving to be on the receiv­ing end. Life is all about getting, not giving. I see people attending the worship services on the Lord's Day not to give praise and glory to God, but in order to be blessed by him in some special way. I see children wanting more, more, and more from their parents and never asking what they can do for them. I see workers demanding the most from their bosses but giving little in return when it comes to real labour. I see politicians dipping deeply into the pot of privilege and prestige but being devoid of any real sense of duty to those who elected them. I see church members expecting their pastors and elders to cater to them and to their needs without giving any thought to their own calling and responsibility in the church.

At times such attitudes drive one to the brink of de­spair. Are there any real servants left today? Are there any out there who are not asking, "What's in it for me?"

Our Lord and Saviour lived and modelled a vastly dif­ferent way. Are you committed to following him in his way? It has not made it into the Book of Praise, and I am not suggesting that it should, but this is a time in which that old, discarded hymn "Brother, let me be your servant" could use some real singing, and some serious doing.