A volunteer versus a servant. Volunteers do just that… volunteer. Usually for the things that are “right up their alley.” Things they feel certain they are built for. Occasionally they will even discomfort themselves so long as there is no long-term obligation to it. Sometimes a volunteer will even have to be asked to volunteer. Churches are littered with sign-up sheets and begging-style requests for help. On the other hand, servants do as the word suggests… serve. Whatever capacity that may mean and without question. They innately follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit as if they naturally see a need and respond accordingly. Servants like to serve, even if it is messy. Of course this is neither a popular, nor modern definition, but it is what the Bible speaks of when it uses the word servant. So just because someone works in an area which is comfortable to them, doesn’t necessarily mean that person is a servant. They may simply be volunteering within their comfort zone. Having defined it that way— How many servants vs. volunteers are there in church today? Believers in America today seem to seek the path of least resistance. This is the furtherest definition of the Greek word for servant in the scripture. That word is “doulos”— bond-servant. One who views their life as a slave to a master. Not very popular today, but when one thinks about it, it has never been popular.
I cannot think of a better servant to example ourselves by than Jesus. Hebrews 12.2 says— “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” looking— actively paying attention to (Jesus). author— originator or preeminent example (Jesus). finisher— to carry through to completion (the cross). despising the shame— choosing to see the cross as insignificant and therefore despised. Why? the joy set before Him— the joy of accomplishing the Father’s will (God’s ultimate desire is for all of humanity to be saved). The only one qualified to do so was Jesus, so He persevered so that He might accomplish God’s will.
This didn’t start on the cross. In fact it didn’t start on the Earth. The scripture says this plan was hatched in Heaven, with the foreknowledge of God. Ephesians 1.4— “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundationof the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” On earth this plan was played out again and again throughout 4000 years of man’s history with God. He accomplished this through appearances, illustrated lives, sacrifices, and revelations. But in the form of Jesus Himself, God demonstrated this perfectly. So as Hebrews 12.2 suggests, let’s look to Jesus the preeminent example of our faith.
You’ll notice even as a child Jesus was busy doing what God wanted. Luke 2.49 states— “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Mom and Dad, how would you like your kid telling you that! At one occasion, when asked to eat, Jesus told the Apostles that His food is: “… to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4.34). He had two points that we must consider: 1. To do the will of Him that sent me; 2.Finish His work. Jesus did what God wanted and did to the point of completion. Leaders know that very few things frustrate them more than having someone that never completes his tasks. That is not Jesus. He is the perfect servant.
Truthfully, there is no place this is more perfectly played out than in the garden before the arrest of Jesus. So many films have butchered this part of the story. They play-off Christ as a wimp and someone scared of the dark. This could not be more further from the truth! Luke 22.41-42 says— “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Jesus anguished over this decision. This was the most difficult time of His earthly existence in human flesh. The temptation of the devil in the desert was nothing compared to this. As a matter of fact, many of the films that attempt to portray this scene, add in a satanic presence tempting Jesus. I will tell you emphatically that He did not need Satan tempting Him in any way! There is enough temptation within our own human flesh not to want to face the tortures that awaited Jesus. This decision would mean physical death; it would mean separation from God on a cross; it would be the worst possible scenario humanly speaking. Yet, He said, “nevertheless”. This one powerful word means it was inconsequential what He wanted to do. God wants what God wants; and as a good and faithful doulos (servant) God’s wants became Jesus’ wants.
In this prayer He says— Not my will, but your’s be done. That is slave talk! He saw Himself as a servant. A true doulos. One who has willingly surrendered their own will to someone else. Comparing the enormous example before us, consider also the silly things we debate on a daily basis. He was in anguish over being physically tortured; yet we get that anxious-put-the-brakes-on feeling when it will inconvenience us. Inconvenience? Nervousness? That makes us put the brakes on? Our perspective is biased and selfish. Look carefully at the example set before us and consider what He did. Consider how minuscule our situations are in comparison. Consider His surrender to the will of His Father in heaven. Then consider our surrender.
We must stop asking ourself what we want to do and ask instead— God, what do you want me to do? Then simply follow-through (obey). We have to remove ourselves from the equation. There has to become an end to “me”. I know that seems impossible right now to some, but if you are being led of the Spirit, then when you’re reading this you can’t help but see the truth in it. The truth is— I am my biggest hang-up in following Christ. I have to decide to do when I don’t want to. “…looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”— Look at the example of Jesus, the servant who did when He didn’t want to.
John Kenneth Galbraith, writes in his autobiography, “A Life in Our Times”, about the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family’s housekeeper: [It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. “Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson.” “He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him.” “Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him.” “No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. “Tell that woman I want her here in the White House.”] She was a servant and not a volunteer. As with all true servants (doulos’) they are there to serve their master’s needs. The slave’s sole business is to do as they are told. Devoting time, trouble, and substance, giving of one’s self, even if they do not like it or want to do it. This only works well if you have surrendered yourself. If you have given up on you and began to live in someone else. Personally, I have to re-surrender myself to His will multiple times a day. Everytime I do it, I am reminded of the great drops of sweat that beaded off of Jesus’ head and then compare that to my small trial. That is when my will kicks in. That’s when I have a choice to make. Notice that Jesus also had a will, He just simply surrendered it. This is again found in the word— “nevertheless”. As if to say, I have my will, but I am surrendering it. That’s the choice of a true servant. I would like to say that I have always chosen, or more times than not, chosen to surrender. But that isn’t the case. I too have a strong will that needs to be conquered by the love of Jesus. When I do go through that exercise successfully, sometimes audibly so, I say— Yes sir, because I love you and you love me more than I deserve… I will. That decision of my will brings overwhelming peace, joy, comfort, and confidence. Which is exactly what we see demonstrated after this personal demonstration of surrender. Jesus got up, with confidence, and faced the evil head-on without flinching! God help me to be more than a volunteer. God help me to see Jesus as my example. God help me to lose myself in You!
The essence of Christian service is loyalty to the King’s wishes. Given the choice, Jesus chose to honor the will of the King before His own. You and I also have that same choice.