READ: Exodus 21:2-6, Luke 16:13, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Colossians 3:22-24, Genenesis 24:1-9, 32-56, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
MEMORY VERSE: Cololssians 3:22- 24 “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 – knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.”
PRACTICAL TRUTH: A minister is a servant called to serve others.
INTRODUCTION:
To whomsoever you yield yourself, you become their servant. As believers, we are God’s servants, and serving Him wholeheartedly must be our priority in life. Review the qualities of a servant in this week’s study and work to have these qualities manifested in your own life as you serve God.
OUTLINES
- Serve Only One Master: Ex. 21:2-6, Luke 16:13
- Submits to the Master’s Will: 1. Sam. 3:1-10, Col. 3:22-24
- Show Loyalty and Faithfulness Gen. 29:1-9, 32- 56.
SERVE ONLY ONE MASTER: EX. 21:2-6, LUKE16:13
Slavery was a universal practice which God tolerated, even though it did not please Him. (Exodus 21:2-6) True servitude is based on love. Serving out of duty or compulsion is not the acceptable service taught in God’s Word. We must serve Christ out of love and unconditionally.
In Luke 16:13, Jesus presented a principle that was intended to bring reproach on the religious leaders of His day. (Verse 14) If we are His servants, then we must faithfully serve Him. We cannot serve God and materialism. Christ and the world are totally opposite. If we try to follow Christ and the world, we will find ourselves pulled apart mentally and emotionally.
In fact, the unhappy people in the world are those who try to serve Christ and this world simultaneously.
In Luke 16, Jesus is not implying that it is wrong to be financially comfortable. The danger lies in the word “serve.” All Believers must regularly examine their lives and see if they have been enslaved by material things. Many Christians have done well financially and still possess a serving spirit. They use their wealth to advance the kingdom of God.
SUBMITS TO THE MASTER’S WILL: I SAM. 3:1-10, COL. 3:22-24
Submission to authority is a principle that is taught throughout Scripture, as portrayed in the life of Samuel. “Nobody can tell me what to do” reflects the spirit of this present age. People are so concerned about their freedom and rights that the thought of submission to authority has vanished. Samuel submitted to Eli even though Eli’s spiritual condition was deplorable. To some, serving is distasteful, and as such, these people have difficulty submitting to authority. This attitude can only lead to disaster. God’s will is the supreme authority.
In Colossians 3:22, Paul urges slaves to give their best service to their masters. This includes being obedient and completely honest with their masters. Paul also instructed slaves to work just as hard even when their masters were not watching them. This principle still applies today. Believers need to consider conscientious service as part of their testimony. We must understand that God sees not only our actions but also our attitude.
Verse 23 provides another important aspect of our service: when we serve, we are actually serving God and not man. This fact gives dignity and meaning to our work. And there is a reward for this selfless life with Christ, as outlined in Verse 24.
SHOW LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS GEN. 29:1-9, 32-56.
God had chosen Abraham as the father of a great nation that would serve Him. A time now came to find a bride for his son Isaac. Isaac was not to marry a Canaanite, as this would bring idolaters into the chosen family and destroy their relationship with God. Abraham, being old, entrusted this mission to his chief servant. This servant displayed the qualities of a true servant (verses 32-38). He did not shrink from the inconveniences of his mission nor question his master’s assignment. In this servant, we have an example for our own service. As believers, we are to be loyal to God. His plans become our plans, and we are to let nothing come in the way of fulfilling the mission to which He has called us.
Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul used the words “ministers” and “stewards” as one and the same. Note: a minister renders a service just as a steward serves. Both have one thing in common: they are responsible to a master and are obligated to carry out orders.
Believers have not been called just to take care of temporal matters. They are stewards of the “mysteries of God.” These mysteries had previously been hidden, but have been revealed to the church in the form of the responsibility to maintain the purity of its message and to proclaim it to others.
As believers and stewards of the gospel, we will answer to God for the way we have followed Him.
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