6 Sermon Illustrations on Servanthood

Throughout the ages, God has referred to His faithful people as His servants. The Bible even calls Jesus "His holy servant." Unlike the religious leaders who exercised unquestioned authority over the people, Jesus came not as a ruler, but as a servant. From the example of His own life He teaches, "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:43-45). Christ ransomed us that we, too, might serve God and man. In our zeal to serve, we often overlook a critical truth: The servant does not choose his tasks. Our concept of serving God may be doing what we would like to do-for God. We tell God what we will do for Him, and what we will not do; where we will go for Him, and where we will not. We even tell Him what must not interfere with our plans. In doing this we forget He is the Master, and that the Master assigns the task. Our part is to give ourselves to Him, accepting the assignment He bestows. A servant is not free to serve on his own terms. Jesus said, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you to go and bring forth fruit" (John 15:16). So, we have been chosen to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). The race set before us may not be on the track we would choose. Perhaps we would not choose the people God has placed around us, or the location or circumstances we find ourselves in, but a servant is not above his Master. "A disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord" (Matthew 10:24-25). Christ's life was one of sacrifice and doing the Father's will. Though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9). He counted equality with God a thing not to be grasped but emptied Himself and became a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). He came to do God's will (Hebrews 10:5-7). As servants following in the footsteps of Christ, we must present our bodies as "living sacrifices" and say, "Here I am-I have come to do Your will," regardless of what the task may be.

One evening, the children in Falks Reformatory at Weimer sat down to supper, and one of the boys said the grace, "Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and bless what thou hast provided." A little fellow said, "Do tell me why the Lord Jesus never comes. We ask him every day to sit with us, and he never comes." — "Dear child, only believe, and you may be sure he will come; for he does not despise our invitation." "I will set him a seat," said the little fellow; and just then there was a knock at the door. A poor frozen apprentice entered, begging a night's lodging. He was made welcome; the chair stood ready for him; every child wanted him to have his plate; and one was lamenting that his bed was too small for the stranger, who was quite touched by such uncommon attentions. The little one had been thinking hard all this time: "Jesus could not come; so he sent this man in his place, — is that it?" — "Yes, dear child, that is just it. Every piece of bread and every drink of water that we give the poor or the sick or the prisoners, for Jesus' sake, we give to him."

Manual labor is esteemed by many at the South as disgraceful. An anecdote showing to what an extent this sentiment prevails, was related at an anti-slavery meeting at Danvers. A student from one of the southern States, in the Theological Seminary at Andover, had purchased some wood, and was exceedingly embarrassed at being unable readily to obtain some one to saw it for him. He went to Professor Stuart, to inquire what he should do in so unfortunate a predicament. The learned professor replied, that he was in want of a job himself, and he would saw it for him.

# AND LAWYERS.

notice at Olonez, he went first to the regency, and inquired of the governor how many suits were depending in the court of chancery? "None, sire," replied the governor. "How happens that?" "I endeavor to prevent lawsuits, and conciliate the parties; I act in such a manner that no traces of difference remain on the archives; if I am wrong, your indulgence will excuse me." "I wish," replied the Czar, "that all governors would act on your principles. Go on, God and your sovereign are equally satisfied."