A Servant's Heart

One of the greatest desires I have for my children is that they would have Servants Hearts. Scripture teaches us that Jesus came not to “be served, but to serve” (Mth 20:28). We struggle with this on a daily basis in our family. So, in an effort to work on this principal and lifestyle of servanthood, I have been reading the book Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends, during our morning breakfast devotional time to the children. It was written by three siblings ages 21, 16 and 12. We read a few pages every day, talk about it, look at the scriptures that are referenced and then pray about what we have read.

One morning we were particularly inspired as we read about the characteristics of a true servant. I’d like to list a few of these here for you (taken from pgs 44-45):

A true servant:
Knows that all assignments are actually from God
Will be quick to volunteer
Considers his assignment important
Takes orders
Does not desire to have authority
Will do what others do not or will not do
Enjoys meeting needs
Doesn’t need recognition
Will voluntarily serve without pay
Doesn’t seek higher status
Will do more than is required
Does not have his own selfish ambitions
Will serve anyone – even those who others don’t like to serve
Is willing to be treated like a servant
Does not seek the “big” and “important” assignments
Will serve with a joyful attitude
Will put his whole heart into each task
Thinks of others before himself
Desires that his master receives the credit
Desires that God receives the glory

As we read through this list, I felt myself being wholly convicted. This list doesn’t just apply to our children. It’s not limited to age. It’s not limited to gender.

As we read through this list, I began thinking of all the times recently I have failed to be a servant. Here I am trying to teach my children to have a servant’s heart only to realize that maybe the example isn’t being set to well. The phrase “monkey see, monkey do” quickly came to mind. My sweet little monkeys are only doing with they see their mamma monkey doing.

As part of our devotional time, we talked about what we could do today to serve Daddy. Now, serving can be done in a multitude of ways. One of my husband's main “love languages” is acts of kindness or service. So the boys decided that today they would serve Daddy by picking up and tidying up the backyard and raking the leaves for him. (This is a task that he has been wanting done for a while now). So, as I type this, they are out working on it. I, too, have written down a list of things that I can do to serve my husband.

To go along with our devotional time on servanthood, our scripture memory verse is Ephesians 6:7-8:

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

It is with a humbled heart I ask you; are you living a life of a servant? How have you served your husband today? Your children? The book goes on to say that, “God has given each of us the perfect place to learn to be a servant – at home”. This is so true. How can we be true servants outside the home, if we are not first being servants in our own home?

Father God, the desire of my heart is that my children would learn to have a servants heart. I fully realize, however, that this begins with me. Show me what I need to change in my own heart so that I might set the example that your beloved Son set for me.