The Heart of a Servant

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Luke 6:38

Kay peered over the stacks of files. Her heart sank as Les laid the last of the pile on the edge of the desk.

“I appreciate you taking on my half of the files. This way I can catch up to the guys after work.” He leaned across the mess and gave her a half-hearted hug. “Wait up guys.”

The office emptied and Kay sat alone wondering why she’d agreed to help Les. A weak smiled parted her lips as she began to sort the files. She wasn’t happy to be alone with the work, but she was pleased to help a friend.

Having the heart of a servant can be tough. Many times others take advantage of those with the willingness to give. Some servants are caregivers, some encouragers, and some give freely of their love and time regardless of their own commitments. Whatever the method, their hearts are tender and their minds obedient.

Many will say Jesus’ perfect example of being a servant was when he knelt to wash the feet of His disciples. But for me, His example lay in the fact that He paid full attention to all those He personally encountered. His ear was always tuned and His heart was always willing. In fact, He was such a servant that His only escape was in a boat on the lake. And when He walked that hill to His death, He walked it without regret and without doubt.

Those who are coined as servants do not ask for favors, they give freely of themselves, and they rarely accept credit for the work they’ve done. We never say thank you enough, instead we continually place more demands on them, and if they do happen to mention a sadness, we easily brush their needs to the side. All Christ asks of us is to love and obey Him, to spread the gospel so that every person can hear, yet all we manage to do is pile another stack of files on the desk.

Do you know someone with the heart of a servant? Have you genuinely praised them, done something special for them, or given just once? Christ gave His life. What have we given this servant in return?