There are a myriad of stories that people share concerning their reasons to serve at their churches. Some want to learn an instrument, a new skill, or have a place where they can practice that has zero costs and is available. Some genuinely enjoy this labor, present themselves on time and are constantly giving of their time and resources.
Others engage in serving grudgingly and midway through the journey, they begin to view it as a redundant burden that nobody requested of them nor does it reward them in the first place. Service to the Lord can never be fulfilling if the man doing it is not liberated in their minds from the bondage of works. True and pleasant service to God can only come from a heart that serves from freedom and understanding.
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, I pray you, let me drink a little water from your water jar. And she said, Drink, my lord; and she quickly let down her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also, until they finish drinking. l NIV
I have often referred to this scripture when I speak of a heart of service because of the excellence with which Rebekah did her duty. If we get a bit technical, camels are said to consume about 30 gallons of water (per camel) at a go. The gentleman sent by Abraham had come with other servants and all of them were on about 10 camels which roughly implies 300 gallons. Scripture tells us that Rebekah watered them all until they drank their fill.
If you study the story of Genesis 24, Abraham’s servant prayed an earnest prayer that the Lord may show him favor on his endeavor to find his master’s bride. And the Lord answered. The sign he asked for is exactly what was given and even exceeded his expectations. On Rebekah’s side, this man was but a stranger and she had no obligation towards him whatsoever, given that she did not even know who he was nor where he was from.Regardless of that, she committed to serving him, his camels and did so without restraint for the scriptures tell us that she drew water for them until they all drank to their fill.
In this text, we encounter two powerful aspects of conforming to God’s ways when He chooses you: positioning and diligence. Firstly, Rebekah was positioned at this well and took note of the foreigner present and honored him even if she did not know him. Secondly, when she committed to serve him and his camels, she ensured to fulfill her commitment regardless of how tedious it could have been to do for a stranger, demonstrating diligence in the face of this commitment. Many in the church of Christ today do not always have the wisdom to reconcile how their half-hearted service frustrates God’s purpose upon their lives. It is unfortunate that we still have brothers and sisters that serve in a transactional manner and serve in exchange for skills, a spouse, jobs and other material things. These people typically receive what they ask God for and then turn their backs on the same God whom they believe has provided it. The error here is that most of them believe their service had something to do with the blessing, and this is wrong for God knows the hearts of men and He does know that they will desert the cause and yet He still blesses them. The heart of the Father is gentle and kind, and unless a man truly understands that anything they attempt to do for God by willpower is already a failure, this mass shall not see salvation.
From Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God … AMPC
A servant is a person who if presented with a choice, would not choose to serve the master they are currently submitted to. A bond servant however, is a servant who has been set free but chooses to stay. This is because they bonded with their master who built a rapport with them, was most likely kind, understanding and loving to them during their time as a slave so the servantwilfully decided to continue with the work. .. This is why the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a bond servant of Jesus Christ because he wilfully served his master,Jesus, regardless of all the martyrdom he was subjected to.
Your service to God should never be from a place of merely being a servant. The revelation of a bond servant is one of a heart that has intimately connected with and to its master, who in its turn serves wilfully, merrily and diligently. Be not of those that serve God with an end in mind. As you are set free from the idolatry of your works as a means to an end, His power in you causes you to will and to do good, consequently keeping you from the carnal occurrences such as burn out, sluggishness or disinterest in serving a Master that is perfectly capable of replenishing you at all times. As you draw nearer, the promise is that He rewards those that diligently seek Him, and within your diligence, therein is your blessing.
If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”
