SERVE: The Mindset of a Servant

We’ve been blessed to be a blessing. We’ve been SAVED to SERVE, to be the heart and hands of Christ to one another and the world. So it makes sense for us to discover what it means to BE A SERVANT. In Philippians 2:5-11, where we are going straight to the source: to Jesus himself, to see what it means to think like a servant.

What is that mindset? What is the attitude of Christ that makes Him a servant? Well, this text gives us three steps Jesus took that reveal His Servant mindset. And the first is this:

Servants empty themselves: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

All of us have grown up in a world that teaches us to do whatever it takes to get an advantage, to get ahead, to get an edge. Life in the 20^th/21^st century in North America has always been about pursuing the American Dream. All about succeeding. Use whatever means you can to win. Get a good education. Work hard. Be smart. Invest shrewdly. Take any advantage you can. Get an edge.

Have you ever asked yourself why? Why do we feel the need to get that edge, to have an advantage? Why do we always feel as if we need to win? Why is that? If you’ve ever read the Lord of the Rings or seen the movie, this idea is a major theme. A Hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins becomes the unlikely bearer of the most powerful force in middle earth – the one ring. This ring was made to rule all others, and if it falls into the hands of the evil Lord Sauron, then darkness with reign and middle earth be destroyed. Borimor, one of the great men of Gondor believes the ring should be used to their advantage to help defeat Sauron. So he attempts to convince Frodo that it would be foolish to destroy it and that it should be used to give them an advantage over Sauron. Finally he tries to take the ring for himself, but fails.

You see power, force, getting an edge, grabbing hold of something to gain an advantage is the world’s way of getting ahead. But it’s not the way of Jesus. Jesus’ way was to empty himself, to let go of his advantage, to lay aside the powers of his deity, to lay aside the privilege of his status – so He could serve us. How did He do this? He made himself nothing, by taking the nature of a servant. He who was the greatest somebody became a nobody so he could hang with anybody.

How do we make ourselves nothing? How did Jesus make himself nothing? Pretty simple but not so easy: It means dying to self. This is why Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. For when we die to self, we give up our right to be somebodies, we give up this passion to prove ourselves, defend ourselves or get that edge to make ourselves look good. That’s why this first action may be the hardest… because emptying your self can only be done by faith.

Servants humble themselves:  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Phil 2:8

Whereas the first step is one of dying to self-importance, power and advantage; the second step is one of humility – a willingness to lay down your will to the Father’s will.   To put ourselves in a position of humble obedience – where we now trust the Father for everything. That’s what Jesus did. Here’s a couple of examples from Jesus:

John 5:19, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

John 8:28-29, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”  

T. W. Hunt in his book, The Mind of Christ, writes about this tie between humility and obedience that was demonstrated by Jesus. He makes some valid distinctions:

Humble people fear the Lord. 
 They look up. They cannot look down on others, for they consider themselves to be at the bottom. Proud people disregard the Lord, for their look is always downward. They always feel superior to others.

Humble people are open to the Lord and to others. God often chooses to speak through others. Jesus always listened to other people. He was especially sensitive to those in need.  Proud people are closed to others; all their attention is on themselves.

Humble people lift up others They are primarly others directed, first upward to God and then outward to others. Proud people are inwardly directed, and this is dangerous to mental health.

Humble people want to encourage others
 They enjoy seeing others blossom. Proud people discourage others. Their stance is to threaten.

Humble people enjoy seeing others succeed.  They are generous and generosity is the mark of greatness. Proud people only rejoice when they themselves succeed.

Humble people depend on the initiative of God.  Since God dwells with the humble, they are in constant contact with Him. They know when He speaks and are quick to obey Him.  Proud people want to obey only their self-exalting impulses. They cannot hear God, for God is opposes to the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Jesus was completely dependent upon God. He was in constant contact with God. He was constantly available to God. As such He was ready and able to do whatever the Father asked.

You ever wonder why you are not more of a servant? It could be right here.

Servants surrender themselves:   And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Phil 2:8

Jesus lived a surrendered life. He gave up everything, became a nobody so he could serve everybody, submitted His will to the Father’s will, which led him to ultimately surrender His very life on the cross. Why? Hebrews 12:2 says this of Jesus: “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

Jesus endured the injustice of false accusations, an illegal trial, and a humiliating death as a criminal. He willingly took the hatred of men and the full fury of God’s wrath toward sin on himself, not simply because He loved us, but because He loved the Father. It was his love for the Father that made it possible for Him to empty himself, submit to the Father’s will and ultimately surrender His life.

Jesus surrendered all for what awaited Him in heaven. Jesus surrendered all because He saw the big picture. Jesus surrendered all because He knew this world was not all there is. His focus was on what lies ahead. His death meant bringing joy, life and peace for countless people like you and me. Jesus surrendered all, because He believed in the Father’s plan.  And Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that’s above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.