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Service Starts in the Mind: To be a Servant I Must Think Like a Servant

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Question to Consider:
Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
While I’m most naturally inclined to say that I’m more concerned about finding ways to serve others because I do try to help whenever I can – there’s a whisper stirring in the back of my mind… When it comes to my relationship with my husband, sometimes I feel overwhelmed and even resentful that service seems to only to go one way most of the time.

It seems like the more I do, the less it’s appreciated. Sometimes I wonder if he’d ever go out of his way to do for me, what I do for him – my hypothetical answer for this hypothethical question often disappoints me. But if I had my mind and my attitude in the right place, I wouldn’t be worried about what people don’t do for me – I would only be concerned with what I can do for them. I’m grateful that this chapter has reminded me of that, because I do believe this is at the heart of some of my frustrations when it comes to serving others.

If I start basing the decision to help others solely on whether or not they would or could ever return the favor, then my service isn’t really service at all because it has a self-serving component. If I really love God, I should be able to help others without being concerned about what they can do for me – I should only concern myself with the rewards that God has promised.

Important Quotes:
“God is always more interested in why we do something than what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements.” (Warren, 265)

“Servants focus on others, not themselves…This is what it means to ‘lose your life’ – forgetting yourself in service of others. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around us.” (Warren, 265)

“Unfortuntely, a lot of our service is often self-serving. We serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals. That is manipulation, not ministry. The whole time we’re really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are.” (Warren, 266)

“Real servants don’t try to use God for their purposes. They let God use them for his purposes.” (Warren, 266)

“Servants remember that God owns it all.” (Warren, 266)

“Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life. Most people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else…When Jesus is your master, money serves you, but if money is your master, you become its slave. Wealth is certainly not a sin, but failing to use it for God’s glory is.” (Warren, 267)

“Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.” (Warren, 268)

“Real servants don’t complain of unfairness, don’t have pity-parties, and don’t resent those not serving. They just trust God and keep serving.” (Warren, 268)

“It is also not our job to defend ourselves against criticism. Let your Master handle it.” (Warren, 268)

“Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say…Servants base their identity in Christ.” (Warren, 269)

“Only secure people can serve. Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. They fear exposure of their weaknesses and hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions. The more insecure you are, the more you will want people to serve you, and the more you will need their approval.” (Warren, 269)

“When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best.” (Warren, 269)

“The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.” (Warren, 270)

“Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.” (Warren, 270)

“It doesn’t matter what your age is, God will use you if you will begin to think like a servant.” (Warren, 270)

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