Attitude of a Servant: by Michael Landsman

Author:Michael Landsman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Spirituality, Religion, Christian Life, General
ISBN: 9780882707006
Publisher: Bridge-Logos Foundation
Published: 1987-01-01T22:00:00+00:00

5

Elements of Servanthood

Some people change their attitudes toward me when they find that I am the author of Supportive Ministries. Sometimes they change their attitude when they find I am on the staff of a large ministry. And that isn't the right attitude.

I'm not viewed in relationship to my work. I'm viewed in relationship to my Master. I'm a servant of Jesus Christ. When you realize that you're a servant, and that's who you are, then your function doesn't matter because the function is determined by the Master. You're not viewed in relationship to your function, you're viewed in relationship to your Master.

"Oh, you work for that ministry?" "Yes." Then someone thinks, "I'd better treat him well, because he works for that large church." That's the wrong attitude. You have to treat me well because I'm a servant of Jesus Christ.

I was teaching in a place one time, and they put me in an economy motel. I went over to the church and talked with the associate pastor. I said, "Brother, I'm not trying to cause any problems. But I've been on the road two weeks. I appreciate the room you gave me, but it's quite small.

"There's another motel right down the road that has larger rooms and better facilities. I'd rather stay there. I'll pay the difference. I'm not concerned about that. I just would like a comfortable place to stay."

He said, "No problem." They put me up at the other motel and took care of the bill. I was talking with the associate pastor later that week, and he asked me several things about the traveling ministry. Accommodations was one of the things he wanted to know about.

I said, "Just use this rule of thumb: How would you like to be treated? A traveling minister spends his time on the road. He's in one motel room after another after another.

"Where would you want to stay if you were constantly away from home and living in hotels? Would you like to stay in a small room where everything is cramped, or would you like to have someplace where you could walk and pray and have a little bit of space?"

He said, "Ah, ha! I see." So I believe it will be better for all the others who go to minister in that church. I could have had the attitude, "Well, how dare you put me in such a small room. This is beneath my dignity."

But I didn't approach it that way at all. I approached it with an attitude of consideration for my hosts, of offering to pay the difference out of my own pocket.

Functions Chosen by God

We're servants of God and viewed in relationship to that. What we do, and how we function doesn't matter. When we're viewed in relationship to God, He'll cause us to function in whatever capacity He needs at that given point in time.

You might function primarily as a teacher, which is my primary function in the Body. But I'm not a teacher, I'm a servant.

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