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.
