Jesus departed from the earth and went back to heaven and He left his apostles behind to proclaim the gospel and build His church, the body of believers.  Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  While Christian apostles and perhaps prophets may have only been in the first century, we still today have evangelists, pastors and teachers. The scripture says that these leaders were given for two purposes – the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ (the Church).  While both purposes are important, I wish to concentrate here on the first purpose.

The scripture says “equipping of the saints.” Saints are not just certain outstanding individuals that the church recognizes as having an exceptional degree of holiness.  All Christians are saints; they are separated for God.  The implication is that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers taught and equipped the saints (Christians) for the work of ministry.  I submit that today Christians should be equipped or prepared for this same work. A minister today often implies a leading person in a congregation who has a special role such as teaching or preaching; he is often paid for the work that he does.  That is not the meaning here.  A minister was the individual who performed the most menial and laborious work. He waited upon the sick, fed the hungry, and labored for the relief of sorrow, distress, and physical ills. He was a servant.  I believe that today believers should be equipped for the work of service.

Jesus was a servant.  Philippians 2:5-9 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”  Jesus taught his disciples to be servants.  In John 13 we have the account of Jesus taking up a towel and water basin and washing his disciples’ feet.  John 13:12-15 “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.’” We need to be willing to serve each other, even in menial tasks.  Since Jesus made a special effort to teach his disciples to serve, we need to also be taught the importance of service. 

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes what will happen when He comes in His glory and sits on His throne.  He will separate the people from one another like a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats with the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Jesus describes how the sheep on His right hand saw their brethren in need and served them.  He goes on to describe how the goats on His left had not served the brethren and they were rejected and sent to everlasting punishment.  I believe He is making the point about how important it is to serve others. In our service to others, we are actually serving Jesus.

We should want to serve others to be like Jesus.  Matthew 20:25-28 “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’” Jesus is our example of being a servant.

How can we have the attitude of a servant?  I think the answers are found in Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  First, we need to get rid of selfish ambition and conceit.  Next, we need to develop lowliness of mind.  Then we must esteem others better than ourselves.  And finally, we must look out for the interests of others.  Follow these steps and you will have the right attitude of a servant.

I encourage you to develop the desire to serve others.  It shouldn’t be drudgery or a feeling that you must serve.  Instead, develop the heart of a servant.  See it as a pleasure to serve.  See a need fulfilled, a job well done. See the appreciation from the one being helped.  They needed you and you were not negligent to help.  Remember that when you serve your fellow brethren, you are actually serving Jesus who gave Himself to die for you. It should be a joy to give back to Jesus because of what He has done for you.  Jesus served us because He loves us.  We serve others because we love them.