In this series on the Spiritual Gifts taught by Paul and listed in the New Testament, Monica Hill continues to examine each of the gifts listed in Romans 12.

Serving is not only named here as a natural gift, but is also one of the two methods, Speaking and Serving (Spiritual Gifts III), emphasised in 1 Peter 4 as the way and manner in which ALL the gifts are to be used.

Usually when Paul mentions a specific gift in more than one of the lists, it is there each time for a specific reason and meaning. 'Serving' is a good description of all the gifts in this particular listing and the fact that it is singled out and placed second seems to elevate its importance – perhaps acknowledging that it can so often be taken for granted or even demeaned. It is true that in the natural order of things, the servant does not have the same status as the one being served - this deliberate reversal accentuates it and should make us take more notice of it in our own lives.

Turning Values Upside Down

Jesus came to challenge and invert worldly concepts, showing how Christians should replace worldly values with Kingdom values. Luke even records Jesus' response to the dispute on greatness arising during the Last Supper: "I am among you as one who serves" (22:27). In the discourse following the request of John and James for preferential treatment, Mark records: "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (10:42-45)

Isaiah's four 'Suffering Servant' passages, culminating in Isaiah 53, were a prophetic forerunner of not only the role of Israel but also of the Messiah, fulfilled in the coming of Jesus.

Jesus was always emphasising the servant nature of his relationship, whether it was with washing the disciple's feet, eating with the lowliest, elevating the poor or putting down those who thought too highly of themselves. Thus he taught his disciples by example that this was the way in which they too needed to behave toward each other.
He would also emphasise that serving the Lord was to be their priority, and that since serving others was a way in which they could do this, they should serve willingly and fervently. "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Eph 6:7) or "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord" (Rom 12:11).

Slaves – Servants - Friends

The New Testament emphasises that servants are not to be treated as slaves: it is not right that anyone who is serving should feel that they are enslaved. They are to serve not as slaves but as sons: "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts...So you are no longer a slave, but a son and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir". (Gal 4:6-7).

In the Kingdom of God, worldly values are turned upside-down. We are to become servants of all, just as Jesus was, but we are not to serve as slaves- rather as sons."

Also when we serve and obey Jesus' commands, we become his friends: "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from the Father I have made known to you" (John 15:14-15).

The Value of the Team

The serving capacity is one of the most important and vital roles in any team – without this co-operation, 'One Man Bands' proliferate. Even those who have the gift of leadership need not necessarily lead on every occasion, but must be sensitive to the skills and insights needed in each circumstance. When others are leading, they need to be mutually supportive.

An observation from nature is helpful here: when geese fly long distances they change leadership regularly (and so do cyclists in long road races). Those who lead also need to be able to support.

Priority in Serving

In Numbers 18:21 the serving role was recognised: "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting." Their time of serving was acknowledged and rewarded. The decision of the apostles in Acts 6 "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" is often misunderstood, as the seven Greek-speaking apostles had a much greater understanding of service and led the missionary movement to the Gentiles.

It is recognised that "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Matt 6:24). Christians should want to serve the Lord and this should develop into a natural expectation to serve others. Joshua gave the people an option:

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Josh 24:15)

'Other masters' can be material things like money – or even putting yourself and your own needs first. When you do the latter, "such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people" (Rom 16:18).

A Word of Warning

In today's world the service industry is a prominent sector – and is often thought of as the 'serving' section of society. But servicing is not necessarily serving! It rather depends on your motivation and mindset when carrying it out. If God and others are not ahead of your own needs you have things in the wrong order!

If you have any comments on 'serving' as a spiritual gift, please do post them below.

In a response to reader comments on her previous article on spiritual gifts, this week Monica Hill looks at the two 'methods' from 1 Peter, which underpin all the other gifts: speaking and serving.

In this series we will be looking at all the gifts in turn, but we will start with the passage that is often ignored in studies – that is the passage in 1 Peter, which we have described as 'methods' applicable to all the gifts rather than specific gifts.

Serving and speaking

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11).

When the above passage in 1 Peter was written, the believers in the early church were already being put under pressure from those Jews who were not believers - and also to a certain extent from the Roman authorities. To speak out at that time, particularly of you did not have a special gifting, could lead to even more persecution, but setting an example in your lives by showing God's unfailing love and living out your faith in service could be of equal value in witnessing. The letters from Peter are two of the latest books to gain a place in our Bible and can have special relevance for believers today - especially when they too are under pressure.

The emphasis in verse 10 is clearly being laid on the serving nature of the gifts. It is recognised that although some of the many gifts being exercised will require the believers to speak out, this is not necessary for every gift. In today's world, being able to express yourself and your feelings in words is an obvious advantage and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, God can put the right words in our mouths when we place our trust in him. However, there are many passages which show that the tongue can be deceptive- and many others that show that deeds can speak louder than words. So if speaking is not your gift, do not despair.

Whether speaking or doing, every gift God gives should be used in a serving capacity- that is, to benefit others and reflect God's amazing grace."

If you can express yourself well, you are to be commended if you use this gift to extol the words of God and to help others understand more of who God is, whilst not thinking of yourself as more important than those who do not find it so easy.

But it IS absolutely necessary for all the gifts to be used in a 'serving' capacity - and they should always reflect God's grace. This grace is described as the free and unmerited favour of God. In fact if we look carefully at the other references to gifts we find that the serving nature is reflected in them all.

Ministry roles

In Ephesians 4:12 we find that the prime purpose of the ministry roles given to individuals is to prepare God's people for works of service. Those who have these ministry gifts are often placed in leadership in our churches and they have a responsibility for equipping and supporting others on the front line. They are in effect a supporting ministry and can be regarded as 'a gift of serving' in themselves.

Manifestations

The manifestations listed in 1 Corinthians 12 each reflect a different spiritual gift. Rightly exercised, they are all different kinds of service and should be exercised for the common good. This is important for building up the body and contributing to the health and unity of the whole church.

Natural gifts

It is easy to see how the seven more 'natural gifts' listed in Romans 12 have a serving capacity – eg 'teaching', 'encouraging', 'contributing to the needs of others', 'showing mercy'. But in verse 7 we find 'serving' is also listed as a specific attribute - if your gift is serving it can have a wide range of applications as the need arises. Those with this gift will also have the ability to discern where the need is greatest and what is needed to be done. They must make a special effort to serve well.

Ministry roles, manifestations and natural gifts are all purposed to serve God's kingdom by building up his people- including the specific gift of serving, which has broad application as the need arises."

Servanthood

We cannot live a fulfilling Christian life without embracing an attitude of servanthood. Jesus gave us the ultimate example of what being a servant to others means - whatever our role in life. When his disciples were debating who would be the greatest, Jesus reminded them that "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27) and he washed his disciples' feet to set an example to us all of the way we should serve one another.

In John 12:26 we read "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me." We are cleansed so that we can "serve the living God" (Heb 9:14). As followers of Jesus, we must follow his example and aim to have a servant heart.

Serving for the right reasons

Serving must be undertaken with willingness and for the right reasons. Elders and leaders are to care for those who have been entrusted to them, "serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve" (1 Pet 5:2)

Slavery was common in those days and also in times nearer our own. Jesus even told us "...and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt 20:27-28).

Whatever our position in life, and however other people treat us, we are encouraged to serve willingly- as it is the Lord we are serving."

We must always remember, when we are serving others, that it is the Lord we are serving (Col 3:24). And in everything we do, it should be done as for the Lord. The slaves in New Testament times, and many of the new believers came from that class of people who could not change their worldly standing. So they were encouraged to respect their masters "so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered" (1 Tim 6:1). If they had believing masters, they were "to serve them even better" (6:2). Paul also said "We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us." (2 Cor 6:8).

What should our attitude be to serving?

Paul's teaching was "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically" (Rom 12:11). In Galatians 5:13 he tells us "to serve one another in love". This is the primary message in John's letters. He continually pleads with the believers to love one another, and he reminds them that in so doing they were reflecting the love and care of the Father. He says "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1).

A final word from Paul

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel" (2 Cor 9:12).