The Heart Of A Servant

The Heart of a Servant

Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

A shared umbrella opens to cover a friend from the downpour of rain.  A pan of freshly baked lasagna, with dinner rolls and a hearty bowl of salad prepared for a sick neighbor.  An hour of lending unpaid tutoring for someone struggling in their academic studies. A  “hello…just checking on you” telephone call to an elderly friend.   Doing the chores for someone else when it’s not your turn . . . These are just the beginning of examples of ways to serve.
One of the greatest examples in the Bible of servanthood, that often goes unmentioned, is when Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.  Scriptures in John chapter 13 gives an account of this.  Can you imagine washing and drying the dirty feet of those who have walked the dusty, sandy and murkiest places in their sandals? Most of us would shun at the thought of this, but not Jesus.  He himself, the Savior and the Christ, the leader of the disciples, took his time to show what leadership and servanthood is all about.  He took a bowl, filled it with water, grabbed his towel and began washing and drying the feet of the disciples of whom he was leading. The heart of serving is rooted in attributes that Jesus himself has taught us, through his example, of how to lead, how to live and how to serve.
Servanthood is not very glamorous in the eyes of today’s society, as the focus is oftentimes on other things that subtract and divide rather than to add enriching value to the lives of others. Sometimes and likewise, servanthood will show us how to take a deeper look into how to enrich the lives of others.  Jesus, took the time to show us the heart of serving.  What is that?  Why is that important?  Why does this matter?

Serving goes beyond the act, it is in the state of the heart.  Let’s look at the word H.E.A.R.T. and use it as an acronym to follow. As presented with opportunities in our lives to share benevolence to others, we can use this word, H.E.A.R.T, to truly identify the Godly characteristics we can operate in to help us become leaders who desire to model Christ’s love as we engage others. Foremost, there is a blessing in serving.

H – Humility.  The heart of a servant who leads is rooted in humility. Jesus bended to wash the feet of the disciples. Humility is not regarding yourself the as utmost of importance, but regarding others when they need it most.  Humility exudes a level and a depth of kindness and agape love.
E -  Eager and Empathetic.  Deep within the heart of a servant is the willingness and desire to give and serve with an attitude of compassion and goodwill.
A – Authentic and Appreciative. Giving out of a pure and genuine heart is at the core serving others as well as being thankful for the opportunity to share.
R – Resourceful.  What can you give?  Your time, resources, gifts, talents and skills are ways that we can give back what God has embedded in us to share with others.
T – Thoughtfulness.  Thinking of the betterment of others.

After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he shared the significance of what he had done:
(John 13: 12-17 NLT)

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me “Teacher and Lord” and you are right, because it is true.  And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master.  Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.  You know these things – now do them!  That is the path of blessing.

We may not actually be washing feet, but serving others in the capacity in which God gives us and opportunities that comes our way, we can truly show what the HEART of serving is, for, servanthood IS the heart of the matter.  How will you serve today?





_{Copyright 2022 Carmela E. Head}