Purpose Driven Life Day 34

Day 34, June 3rd, "Thinking Like A Servant"

   - Philippians 2:5 says, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Service starts in your mind. If you are going to be a good servant you need to have a mental mind shift and change your attitude from negative to positive. "God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements." (Rick Warren). Think about why you are serving, not what others will think of it. Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitude:
1. Servants think more about others than about themselves.

    - "Don't think less of yourself, think of yourself less." (Rick Warren). Philippians 2:4 says, "Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." We need to forget ourselves in service to others. We need to stop focusing on our needs and become aware of the needs around us. "It's only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered." (Rick Warren). It is important that we don't use service as a bargain tool for God. Often times we get caught up and try to bargain with God. If I do this then I should get this. It is important not to do that. Real servants let God use them for his purposes and not their own. "Self-denial is the core of servanthood."  (Rick Warren). Matthew 5:41 says, "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles." Think more about others and less about yourself.
2. Servants think like stewards, not owners.

    - Remember that God owns everything. It is important that we settle the issue of money in our lives. Luke 16:13 says, "'No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.'" Wealth is not a sin but not using it for God's glory is. "Servants of God are always more concerned about ministry than money." (Rick Warren). God uses money to test our faithfulness. Luke 16:11 says, "And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" If God can't trust us with worldly wealth, how is he going to trust us with the riches of heaven? God tells us to test him with our tithe. Malachi 3:10 says, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, 'says the Lord Almighty, ' and see if I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'" Tithing is giving 10% before taxes to the church. Every time you tithe God says he will pour out a blessing to you. He doesn't say it will be financial but he says he will pour out a blessing. I can personally testify to this. Every sense I have started tithing I have been cancer free. I will never stop tithing. It is so powerful. "How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life." (Rick Warren).
3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.

    - It is important that we do not compare, criticize, or compete with others. We need to be too busy doing the work that God gave us to do to have time to compare ourselves to others. Romans 14:4 says, "Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval." Don't judge others or compare yourself to others. In our society today this is hard. Social media makes it difficult for us to not compare ourselves to others. Real servants do not complain about unfairness. If you serve like Jesus you can expect to be criticized.
4. Servants base their identity in Christ. 

    - We don't have to prove our worth to anyone. Accept jobs that insecure people think are beneath them. Jesus washed his disciples feet. Any job you do is not beneath you. Only secure people can serve. Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. I struggle with this one but have gotten a lot better in the last few months. It is important to not worry about what others think about you. Only worry about what God thinks of you. 2 Corinthians 10:18 says, "When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them." The closer you get to Jesus the less you need to promote yourself and get approval from others.
5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

- Servants enjoy helping people and meeting their needs. Serving is the highest use of life. "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve." (Albert Schweitzer). I truly enjoy serving others. I feel so fulfilled and time passes by so fast. Serving is my spiritual gift.

Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.
Verse to Remember: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about beings served or finding ways to serve others?

Purpose Driven Life Day 33

Day 33, June 2nd, "How Real Servants Act" 

    - We serve God by serving others. God measures greatness in terms of service, not in terms of status. Our society has a "me-first" mentality. As christians we need to eliminate the "me-first" thinking in our lives. "God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you." (Rick Warren). Most all of us want to lead and not be a servant but to be like Jesus we must be a servant. Knowing your shape that God gave you is important but having the heart of a servant is even more important. "Without a servants heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain." (Rick Warren). God tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're NOT shaped. "Your primary ministry should be in the area of your service, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at that moment." A servants heart will reveal your maturity.

REAL SERVANTS MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO SERVE

     - 2 Timothy 2:4 says, "Solider's don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them." Rick Warren says, "When you only serve when its convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Real servants do what's needed, even when its inconvenient." We have to remind ourselves that we are all servants and we won't be frustrated with interruptions throughout our day. If you are at work and get interrupted to help someone, see it as an opportunity to be a servant, don't see it as a interruption or inconvenience. Your agenda will be whatever God plans for your day. 

REAL SERVANTS PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS

     - We should always be on the lookout to help others. Galatians 6:10 says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." "When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood." (Rick Warren). Often times we miss our on opportunities to serve because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. We have to be willing to serve others on the fly and be sensitive to others because great opportunities to serve never last long. Proverbs 3:28 says, "Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you' - when you already have it with you." Don't put off something till tomorrow that you can do today. We need to do the little things as if they were the great things. 

REAL SERVANTS DO THEIR BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE

    - Real servants do what needs to be done now. They don't put off things that they can get done in that moment. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." We have to do what we can with what we have and wherever we are. You may not have everything you want of be where you want to be but you can still serve and be a servant with what you have. 

REAL SERVANTS DO EVERY TASK WITH EQUAL DEDICATION

    - Real servants to every task with all their heart. "You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks." (Rick Warren). I have a masters degree but I worked in a hospital as a tech and I worked as a caregiver. These tasks are not below me just because I have a masters degree. Sometimes the menial tasks mean the most. Galatians 6:3 says, "If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." Do even the small tasks with a big heart. "Your servant's heart is revealed in little acts that others don't think you are doing." (Rick Warren). Do the small/not-so glamorous tasks and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. "Sometimes you serve upward to those with anything, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way you develop a servants heart." (Rick Warren). Whether you are serving the president of the USA or the homeless man on the street, God sees them the same and each task should be done with equal dedication.

REAL SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL TO THEIR MINISTRY

    - Real servants are trustworthy and dependable. Can you be counted on by others? God puts us to the test here and test our faithfulness. God will reward your faithfulness in eternity. Don't bail on someone or the church because you just don't want to or you are tired. Faithful servants never retire from serving God. 

REAL SERVANTS MAINTAIN A LOW PROFILE

    - Real servants are humble and maintain a low profile. They do not bring attention to themselves. They are humble and accept recognition if given it but do not seek recognition. Matthew 6:1 says, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Don't do stuff to seek recognition. Don't serve for approval or applause. So many people on social media post things for attention or recognition. They enjoy the "likes" but we need to realize that God sees all that we do and we will be rewarded in heaven. We don't need others approval. Being in the spotlight blinds you. God put you exactly where you are for a purpose. "The most significant service is often the service that is unseen." (Rick Warren). 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that you labor in the Lord is vain." 

Point to Ponder: I serve God by serving others.
Verse to Remember: "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew10:42
Question to Consider: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the most challenge to me?