Well, some may ask, isn't that the same thing? They are similar, but there are differences. A slave is a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them. A servant is a person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant. A servant has a choice, it is more of an occupation, and may even get paid for his/her work. A slave has no choice, has no pay, has nothing. To use slave as a verb, it means to work excessively hard. Whereas, to serve means devoting help to others. When we are enslaved to Satan, we are caused to lose our freedom of choice and action. We are his slave. However, if we are saved, then we are a servant of Christ. He is the perfect gentleman, giving us the choice of whom we serve. As a Christian, we are given a servant's heart. We have, or should have a desire to be helpful, no matter a person's circumstances and situation, having compassion to want to help. We are no longer in bondage to this old sinful world. We are no longer tossed to and fro, with no hope, no chance, enslaved forever!
Praise the Lord, I am no longer a slave! I have a servant's heart, full of desire to help and love as Christ! However, our soul is saved, but this flesh is not. So it is a constant battle between the two. Romans 7:21-25, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am? who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." We daily have to decide, are we going to serve the Lord today, or are we going to give into the flesh.
With all that being said, I want to focus on this thought: what kind of server are we?
There are ME-servers. These folks always put self first. I can't help others or do anything for others until I have done all I need or want for myself. Oh, they may not say those exact words out loud, but their actions say it for them.
Then there are the WE-servers. It's all about my family and no one else. It's all about my job and no one else. It's all about my religion and no one else. These are often known as 'clicks'. Some go so far with it, that they are known as a 'cult'. I can't help you, I won't help you unless you are in my circle.
But, we need to strive to always, daily be HE-servers! As Christians, we are to be Christ-like. We are to do as He does, do as He would do. Have compassion on anyone and everyone no matter their circumstance or situation. If we have anything or anyway that can lend help, then that is just what we are supposed to do.
God, forgive me for being a ME and a WE server, help me each morning to wake up and feed the spiritual man and starve the flesh. Help me to crucify my flesh, put on my whole armour of God and be a HE-server. Thank you that I am no longer a slave to the flesh! I will gladly serve You, oh Lord, my Helper, my Refuge, my Strength. May I always see others through your eyes, may I always have a servant's heart!
