The Heart of a Servant Eph. 6:5-8 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Eph 6:5-8 and Col 3:22-24 reveal something to us of the heart of a servant, “doing the will of God from the heart.”  We often see the nature of a servant’s heart in wounded veterans.  Wounded vets often want to be back with their teams because they want to serve.  Often they can’t rejoin their teams so they end up in another kind of service helping people.  Serving others was in their heart when they entered the military, so they still need to serve.

From the scripture we learn what’s in the heart of a servant of God.

Servants understand the gravity of carrying out their responsibility – “with fear and trembling” – they never neglect their service because of the need [1 Cor 9:16] and because of their accountability to God – service is not a matter of convenience for them; it is a matter of necessity – they are dealing with the will of God.

Servants are willing to put everything on the line – “in singleness of your heart” – they are “all in” like the early church who sold their land and possessions and parted the proceeds alike – a retired veteran desiring to help wounded vets find a place to serve lived with only a mattress on the floor in the early days of his non-profit work because he had invested all that he had in helping others – see 1 Cor 9:19-22.

Servants understand that their labor is to man but for the Lord – “servants of Christ” – this allows them to keep the harmony of their service – they don’t conflict with those with whom they serve because they aren’t trying to make a name for themselves or lord it over those who serve with them.

Servants serve whether they are appreciated by men or not – “men-pleasers” – Paul said to the Corinthians, “the more I love the less I be loved” and he asked the Galatians, “Am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”  A pat on the back and a thank you go a long way to encourage those who serve – however, when you have the heart of a servant, you serve even when they don’t thank you and compliment you.

Servants find joy and fulfillment in their opportunities to serve – “with good will; do it heartily” – wounded vets often lose their identity when they can’t return to the service and find it in serving others in another capacity – they don’t want others doing for them; they want to do for others – that’s what’s in their heart – deputation is hard on pastors who become missionaries because others are giving to them – they get over it when they get to the field and start serving others again.

Servants are completely satisfied with a supernatural reward – “the same shall he receive of the Lord” – service is not for pay here or for recognition here; it’s really not for the pay hereafter, either, but you will be rewarded, nonetheless.  Servants are willing to wait and serve for the honor and the glory of the Lord.

Conclusion: if you really want to serve, then start with the heart and do the menial tasks in the above fashion – you will be given more service opportunities in time.