We Get, Not By Taking, But By Giving

Blog Series

Helpful Tips for Saving Yourself from Trouble

It is said that you cannot break the laws of God. You can only break yourself against them when you violate them. In this series we are looking at some of the simple and clear “laws of God” – that is to say, “biblical principles” – that we must follow if we do not want to bring very negative cause-effect consequences into our lives.

Serving others is not a very popular idea these days. 

Modern American culture is more concerned about getting others to serve us. Yet, a spirit of servanthood is critical to a satisfying life experience.

We have all heard of “barn raisings” which were common in rural America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Dozens of men would gather at a building site where there were pre-cut beams and lumber. Under the direction of experienced builders, the men would put up a post-and-beam frame on a foundation that was already laid. The roof and siding went on quickly thereafter, with barns often being completed in a single day. During the process, wives cooked enough food to feed the crew as children gawked at the proceedings or went off to play.

In such communities in rural America, it was a very real kind of social security. The residents knew that if they helped build a barn for their neighbors when they needed it, their neighbors would build a barn for them if they should ever need it. It was a band of people who all agreed to look out for the welfare of the others, knowing that the others would look out for them.

A hundred or two hundred years of cultural upheaval later, many Americans hardly know how to live in fellowship and harmony with others. The characteristics which foster fellowship and harmony are often seen as weakness or stupidity:  serving others, admitting when we are wrong and apologizing, giving the benefit of a doubt, walking the extra mile, turning the other cheek, giving time and money to others when you may not ever get it back, etc. As a result, we often live as a collection of little human islands, in proximity to others, but not in communion. It makes for lonely people and a harder life.

What Does the Bible Teach About Servanthood?

The Bible teaches that Christians are to live as servants to one another. We read in Mark 10 that two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, asked to be given positions of honor when Jesus established His kingdom. The other ten disciples got pushed out of shape about it, and so Jesus called them together to solve the dispute:

“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

Not only did Jesus teach this, he lived it. He washed His own follower’s grimy feet, a chore normally reserved for a slave (John 13). This was a revolutionary message in a culture which was very “class conscious.” He did so for the specific purpose of teaching the disciples that they should serve one another.

Power, position and privilege were keenly sought after everywhere, among both Jews and Romans. Jesus was definitely swimming upstream.

Later, the apostles also taught the principles of servanthood. Paul wrote, in Philippians 2:1-4, one of the most eloquent statements ever made on the heart of a servant:

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Even those in authority are to serve those under them. All authority is to be used benevolently, for the good of those under authority, whether it is husband/wife relationships (Ephesians 5:22-31), parent/child relationships (Ephesians 6:1-4), employer/employee relationships (Ephesians 6:4-9), government/citizen relationships (1 Peter 2:13-14) or church/member relationships (1 Peter 5:1-4).

In all cases, those in power are to use their position for the good and welfare of those under authority. That is the spirit of servant-leadership.

Conclusion

Chuck Colson, in his book A Dangerous Grace wrote:

“Nothing distinguishes the kingdoms of man from the kingdom of God more than their diametrically opposed views of the exercise of power. One seeks to control people, the other to serve people; one promotes self, the other prostrates self; one seeks prestige and position, the other lifts up the lowly and despised. As citizens of the Kingdom today practice this view of power, they are setting an example for their neighbors by modeling servanthood .”

Does it cost anything to live this way? Of course! But what we get in return is a spirit of unity and harmony, and the added benefit of others’ looking out for us when we are in need. The way God has ordained things, we get – not by taking – but by giving.

In case you’re new here

The entire “Helpful Tips for Saving Yourself from Trouble” series is in the archives, beginning with the first post on July 26, 2022. As the series continues, each succeeding post will be added to and available in the blog archives.

In addition, I’m creating a new online membership site, The Change Zone, that will provide information, strategies and resources to help motivated Christians renew their mind and transform their lives. If you would like to learn more about this and get updates to know when The Change Zone will be available, click here.

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