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Faith walk: Service or servitude?

Pastor Bill Register
Posted 11/28/18

Service or servitude? There is a big difference.

Service is what you choose to offer others. Servitude is the condition of having to serve or obey another person. Service is freely given; …

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Faith walk: Service or servitude?


Posted

Service or servitude? There is a big difference.

Service is what you choose to offer others. Servitude is the condition of having to serve or obey another person. Service is freely given; servitude is a requirement.

Jesus taught us to serve others in every way and to do it willingly. For example, He said if you are required to carry another’s load for a mile, do not stop there. Go beyond requirements and gladly carry the load a second mile.

Servitude puts a burden of compliance upon us. It leaves no options or choices.

But serving others in obedience to the Lord means we are really serving Him. We do it because we choose to do it. There is great joy in freely and truly serving others.

Recently I spent a week in the Great Smoky Mountains as a guest of individuals who offer this retreat to ministers and missionaries as a gift. It is a calling God has put on their hearts to serve those who are called to constantly serve. What a blessing it is to have those who are willing to offer such a sacrificial service!

If you are required to serve others, it may produce no joy unless you do it with a true desire to serve. If you serve by your own choice, the reward is joy and satisfaction.

We have the choice to follow the teaching of Jesus and serve others. He said this is the path to true greatness. That may not be recognized by this world, but servants are accorded the highest level of greatness in the Kingdom of God.

And serving others is definitely a choice. “He that would be greatest among you, let him become the servant of all,” is what Jesus said. (Mark 10:44) When you believe the true reward is in serving others, it is a simple choice.

Serve! You will gain more by giving than you will ever lose.

www.firstagcc.org

Write the Pastor at PastorBill@firstagcc.org