Day One: What Is Servanthood?

Welcome to Extreme Servanthood day one! I’m so excited to start this blogging journey. Today, I want to look at the foundational question of this blog--- what is servanthood?

It’s a word that can conjure up diverse images. Some may think of enslavement or loss of will. Others will think of weakness or people pleasing. Other still think of ministry settings like mission’s trips and church events.

I’ve been blessed with two wonderful examples to help me understand servanthood: my parents. They model what it means to be a servant at home, at church, at work, in every situation. They aren’t perfect, but their lives are my definition of servanthood.

First, my parents modeled (and expected) servanthood as going above and beyond what is required. Doing your job, cleaning your room, showing up on time are all good things, but not necessarily servanthood. Believers and non-believers alike do these all the time because these are activities that are required of human beings to live in our society.  Servanthood is when a person does these things with excellence unto the Lord and goes beyond them. It’s cleaning what isn’t yours to clean, doing the work that isn’t yours to do, and showing up when no one is demanding you do.

Second, my parents model servanthood as a lifestyle. Servanthood is not an event, it is not something you can do and then go home to relax because you marked that off your good deeds’ list. It is supposed to affect every decision of every moment of your day, no matter how seemingly small. When we were kids and went to family gatherings, there were never enough chairs or coach space to go around, which was fine because “Reishes sit on the floor.” It’s ingrained into me to this day when I am in a setting where there might not be enough chairs to go around, to check and make sure everyone else has a seat before I sit down.

Third, servanthood is doing what needs to be done. Another thing my Dad loved doing when we were kids was to purposely leave things out around the house to see who would pick them up. My dad, the king of object lessons, would then sit us down and talk us through why if you see something out and you know where it goes, to put it away. The same is true of servanthood. If you see a need, and have the ability or resources to help met it, help. Some situations may be more complicated trying to figure out if intervention is really what the person needs or if there are other people involved, but the principle is, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Gal 6:10).

Fourth, servanthood is the practical outcome of being “others focused.” Being “others focused” is being aware of the needs of others, caring about what they need or feel. Others focus is a heart and attitude condition that is developed through years of a person yielding to the Holy Spirit’s work in her life. It is looking “not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). Living others focused is contrary to the deepest impulses of human nature, but it is the ultimate expression of selfless love. It’s what Philippians called “having the mind of Christ” (Phil 2:5).

Servanthood is best defined by actions, not words, but as close as words can get, I would say servanthood is the lifestyle of selflessly responding to the needs you see around you out of a vibrate love for God and others. It is serving for God’s glory and others’ benefit, not your own agenda.

On Wednesday, we will look at the difference between this others focused servanthood and people pleasing, so stay tuned!

My Parents, Ray and Donna Reish