Servants of God

Servants of God

I Corinthians 3.5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the LORD has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

This may be a difficult message to receive for some, especially if they are wrestling with pride. We like to think we are something.
Jesus tells us, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15.5

I think we throw the term servant around  today without knowing much about it. We have hired help today whether it is landscapers, or house cleaners or the like.

First of all these are jobs. A servant had no life of his own. He belonged to someone else.
I have seen a form of servants in Haiti. The poor people will give their children to wealthy people in exchange for food and a place to stay. I have seen the servants quarters. They are at the beckon call of the master. Their lives are governed by another. Literally their lives are not their own. They rise before dawn and sometimes work late into the night.

Servants do the dirty work like taking out the trash, cleaning the bathrooms, etc.
Being God's servant is an honorable position. Throughout the New Testament, the word bondservant or servant is applied to someone absolutely devoted to Jesus. Paul, Timothy, James, Peter, and Jude all describe themselves as “bondservants of Christ” Every task takes on dignity if it is done for Jesus.

Bondservant= willing after a debt was paid staying on as a servant,  it enhanced and advanced the relationship with the Master.

Servants of God...

First look at this word Paul uses to put servants of God in perspective.

1. Only servants  v.5

It is human nature to have an affinity toward certain pastors and ministers of the Gospel. There are certain ones I can listen to and receive something each time.
Ron Posey’s statement, not my preference but who cares if God uses him to help our church?

The Corinthians carried this way too far. They began to elevate ministers, servants. It was inappropriate. It was wrong. You can tell how worldly or spiritual minded a person is by whether or not they put servants on a pedestal.

We have almost lost sight of what it means to be a servant in the church, particularly among pastors. Servant Leadership is a buzzword. You want to see the epitome of Servant Leadership?  Look at Jesus in the Upper Room, washing the feet of His Disciples!  John 13 More about that in a moment.

This whole idea of leadership bothers me. It is a spiritual gift for the church. It has nearly replaced the concept of the Pastor as a shepherd of the flock. I love my cousin’s husband, Herman, Dr. Herman Wapelhorst, “Larry, how’s the flock?” He knows. He gets it.

Programs, strategies, vision all have a place, a little place in the Kingdom. The church has elevated these things to the point of intoxication today so that a young “successful” pastor told me recently, “I really don’t like people.” If that is the case then go into business or some profession because you are not a shepherd.

The big issue of this section of scripture is elevating the human element far beyond what it supposed to be. That is precisely what they were doing in the Corinthian Church. I am not sure they even realized it.

Paul had to write to them and say we are only servants. Without that understanding men are elevated. When someone is elevated they can get the wrong impression of themselves. Romans 12.3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

The danger of treating servants of God for more than they are can make people feel that they are above the possibility of error.
There is only One Who is perfect. He is the LORD. Elevating servants as we see in this passage takes our eyes off the LORD and puts them on others. 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,and Christ is of God.

It is the LORD. It is God. It is all about God. He makes the seed to grow. We plant and water it. That is our part.

When we have done our part...
2. Jesus Put Servanthood In Perspective.

Luke 17.10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

That speaks to my heart and soul. Who do we think we are?!
We talk about worth of some of God’s servants that actually make me nauseous, what they have given up to serve Jesus, etc.

Meanwhile where is God in all of this? God help us. We have moved far beyond His Word today. Jesus is the One!
 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Greatness is God’s Kingdom is in being the servant of all.
Matthew 23.11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
Mark 9.35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

He was going to demonstrate this when He showed them the full extent of His love.

These statements by Jesus were so opposite of the contemporary thought. The disciples argued over who would be the greatest. They vied for the position of sitting on His right and His left.
Mark 10.35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want Me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in Your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”


To be a servant was the furthest thing from their minds. On the contrary they dreamed of having servants and being part of the Kingdom on earth they thought Jesus was going to set up. I have read some Bible Commentaries where the writers believe no one in that upper room wanted to be the servant and wash feet. This was a common tradition and courtesy. This opened up the way for Jesus to do it. He knew their hearts and He knows ours!
We were reading about this in the Discipleship Group ‪on Thursday night‬. The account of Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman and Jesus.
Luke 7.44 Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.


One of the spiritual battles we face is just this. We are in the Kingdom of God, serving in the Kingdom of God. Yet our lives are lived on the earth. We wrestle against not against flesh and blood. Our battle is with principalities and power, of spiritual forces of darkness in the heavenly realms. We must submit to the cross. We must follow Jesus’ example as a servant. We must embrace the cross and our standing as servants. It is not something we do. It is who we are!

3. Jesus Set An Example of Servanthood Because He Was A Servant.

The Basin and the Towel
The dirt off the feet. The odors.
The lowest servant in a household would do this.
John 13.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

The most distasteful tasks are dignified if they are done for Jesus.

Servants rise early and sometimes stay up late if necessary. They overlook inconveniences.

Recently I have been picking up the trash each day around the church. I used to grumble about how people are slobs. Now, I realize I am doing it for Jesus, to make the grounds dedicated to Him, beautiful.  I ride my bike and stop where there is trash and pick it up, then take it to the dumpster and place it in there.

Be encouraged you servants of the LORD.
Keep serving!
Serve the LORD with gladness! Psalm 100.2
Lots of joy!
And trials...
II Corinthians 6:4–5: “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings . . . ” If you were beaten for Jesus, I would like to know who you are. Come up and tell me, “I was beaten for Jesus,” and I will bow down and give thanks for you and your faith.

Servants of God...
That is all we are.
Jesus is our example.







Servant