Becoming True Servants
Genuine and faithful service is what we passionately yearn to offer to our Almighty God. Plain and simple, we long to become true servants for God’s glory. This is the supreme reason why we look for every possible venue to give ourselves to the work of the Lord. We search for our right place in the ministry. At the same time, we offer our tasks in our workplaces as gifts of service. Whenever and wherever, we keep in mind the kernel of truth expressed in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.”
In our pursuit to become true servants, we want to learn. We desire to grow in our service to God. Captivated by this desire, let us add three fundamental truths about a true servant into our treasure of faith. The poignant account about the sinful woman who anointed Jesus Christ in Luke 7:36-50 teaches us three things:
1. True servants go where the Master is
- Luke 7:37a: “…a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house…”
- Observing the actions of the woman in the story, we can see the probability that she had been waiting for the chance to be with Jesus.
- Upon learning that Jesus was in their town, she wasted no time and hurriedly went to the place. Why? It is because she knew that she had to be where Jesus was. Otherwise, she would not be able to anoint our Lord.
- True servants are like the woman in the story.
- They recognize every opportunity to serve Jesus Christ.
- They hurry to do their act of service for our Lord.
- Going where the Master is has a profound meaning in the life of true servants.
- It requires the God-ordained sensitivity expressed in Matthew 25:40: “…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
- True servants see their Master in every person in need of assistance. Thus, they are willing to go to the poor and the needy in order to serve them.
- True servants are ready to give their wholehearted service to the Master because this is the meaning of their existence.
2. True servants give their own to the Master
- Luke 7:37b-38: “…she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
- Looking closely at the details of the story, everything the woman offered is part of her precious possessions, if not the most precious ones.
- Tears
- Hair
- Alabaster jar of perfume
- And we must stress the fact that she extravagantly offered what is her own to the Master.
- Has somebody wet your dirty feet with his/her tears?
- Has somebody used his/her hair to wipe your dirty feet?
- Has somebody poured expensive perfume on your feet?
- Or the more appropriate is, would anyone consider doing those to you?
- Would you even consider doing those to others?
- Yet in the story, we find the woman lavishing her own precious possessions to the Master.
- True servants are those eager to give what they have to the Master. They offer their:
- Tears – passionate efforts
- Hair – reputable standing
- Alabaster jar of perfume – fruits of labor
- They lavish their love and service to Jesus Christ through every little thing that they can offer.
- True servants render service to their Master in all aspects of their lives.
- Simply put, they live a life of genuine service to the Master.
3. True servants trust in the Master’s heart
- Luke 7:48b: “Your sins are forgiven.”
- The account explicitly tells us that the woman led a simple life and this fact was known to the people who witnessed the act.
- Evidently, she was not worthy to touch Jesus Christ who is the righteous Teacher of the Law.
- No doubt, she was also aware of this. So we ask: where did she get the courage to touch Him?
- She trusted the loving and merciful heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Who are worthy to serve the Most High God? Who can touch the feet of Jesus Christ?
- True servants touch the feet of Jesus because they have the faith like that of the woman.
- They recognize their sinfulness, thus they humble down before Him.
- They sit at the feet of Jesus and serve Him, fully trusting in the love and mercy of the Master.
- With their hearts filled with God’s love, they are always assured of the sole reason why they can serve Him – His endless grace.
- This is also the immovable foundation of their unwavering commitment to give glory to the Almighty God.
- True servants are unstoppable in their service because they have been captured by the love of the Master.
- Deeply amazed by His unfailing love, they love much and serve relentlessly, always reminded of His words, “Your faith has saved you.”
Conclusion
We all want to become true servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, we must learn from the woman who wet the feet of Jesus Christ with her tears… wiped them with her hair… and poured perfumed afterwards. Let the testimony of her life guide our pursuit: a true servant has seen the True Master.
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