When treated like a servant . . .

Posted on December 16, 2018 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

I have heard it said that you can assess how well you are doing at being a servant by how you respond when you are treated like one.

This is a test that I regularly fail. I may look on the outside like I’m handling it well, but my inside is another matter entirely.

Recently I was called into a meeting which didn’t go the way I would have liked. I felt disrespected and my motives in a situation were misunderstood. It was definitely not enjoyable.

I may have kept my cool until I got into my truck, but I was not a happy camper on the way home and for the remainder of the day.

My response to the meeting revealed my unwillingness to be treated like a servant. Yes, I am aware of the whole first will be last thing, but there is still a gap between my head and my heart too much of the time.

This evening, while I was studying the introduction to Philippians, I was reminded of the seriousness of this failure. As Paul does in most of his letters, he refers to himself a slave of Jesus Christ. Some English Bibles translate the word doulos as bond-servant, others as bond-slave, but just plain slave or servant is also a good translation.

Servants don’t have rights to exercise. They don’t often have the right to complain about the requirements of the their service. They do what is required of them as part of their service.

Paul took on his service to Jesus Christ voluntarily in response to the great salvation that he was given. MacArthur writes:

“When used in the New Testament of a believer’s relationship to Jesus Christ, doulos describes willing, determined, and devoted service. It reflects the attitude of an Old Testament slave who refused the opportunity for freedom and voluntarily resubmitted himself to his master for life.”
MacArthur Commentary on Philippians

So the lesson I learn is that if I am doing well at being a servant of Jesus Christ, I will be in a better position to be a servant to others, even when they treat me with disrespect. I don’t have to like the treatment, but I don’t have to be dismayed by it either.

Conversely, if I am struggling with how I am treated by others, it is a good indication that I am not resting in the knowledge of my position in Christ.

The bottom line is that I don’t need to be validated by others when I am a servant of Jesus Christ, because Jesus gives me the ultimate status as a child of God.

Choose To Be A Servant: Example of Nebuchadnezzar

Posted on June 1, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Unwilling Servant

In Jeremiah 27:6, Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as a servant of Jehovah. There is a sense that every world leader is a servant of the God who allows that leader to rise to power. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” There was nothing that Nebuchadnezzar could do to thwart God’s plan for history.

Willing Servant

There is another sense in which Nebuchadnezzar became the servant of Jehovah. In Daniel 4:28-37 we see the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall and restoration.

Nebuchadnezzar had been an eyewitness to several miracles, yet he remained proud and self-reliant. In this section of Daniel 4 we see that God reduced him from his throne to eating grass in the field like a wild animal. Nebuchadnezzar was taken from being arguably the most powerful man in the world to a homeless madman. This transition is like going from the White House to living in a cardboard box under a bridge. He went from top to bottom in an instant.

In God’s sovereignty and grace, this was not the end of the story for Nebuchadnezzar. When the former king blessed “the Most High” his reason returned to him and he was restored to the throne, but with a new heart and a new attitude. Nebuchadnezzar proclaims this about the God who lives forever in Daniel 4:34-35:

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

We are not told much more about Nebuchadnezzar’s reign from that point on, but my guess is that it was very different than before his humiliation.

Willingly or Unwillingly All Will Bow

We are told in Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10 – Every knee shall eventually bow before the throne of God. The only choice in the matter is if we will do it willingly or unwillingly.

In his sovereignty, God allows circumstances into our lives which overwhelm us. Life does not always treat us fairly; things do not always turn out the way we would like. This often is perceived as bad news, but when we respond properly, it can be transformed into good news.

The circumstances become good news when God uses them in our lives to remind us that we are not in control and that we do not have all the answers. God give us the opportunity to turn to him, bow our knees and submit.

God, in his grace, humbled Nebuchadnezzar in his lifetime so that he would choose to bend the knee before it was too late. Nebuchadnezzar chose well at the end. May we do the same when faced with difficulties.

Moses as Leader – Do the right thing even when it’s not appreciated

Posted on May 22, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 4 Comments

Moses as Leader – The Story

Moses is up on the mountain receiving the law from God. Meanwhile, down in the valley, the people of Israel have built and are

worshiping a golden idol. Before they have even received the law, the people have broken the first two commandments.

In response to this, Exodus 32:7-10 records that God proposed a plan to wipe out the nation of Israel and start over with Moses as the patriarch of a new nation. Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Becoming a Servant of God, points out the significance of this offer. From a

human perspective, it doesn’t get any better than becoming the father of a whole nation. By anyone’s standard, this would be a significant honor and achievement.

But look at how Moses responds. Instead of taking God up on the offer, he begins pleading for the nation of Israel. He intercedes on their behalf, even while the nation is still in party mode and not ready to acknowledge their error.

Moses as Leader – The Principle

As the title of this post indicates, the principle is that leaders do the best thing for their people even when the people do not know or appreciate what is being done.

From a human perspective, what did Moses get from this transaction? He got 40 more years of whining and aggravation from the people, he got his leadership challenged, he got overworked and died in the wilderness without a permanent home.

From an eternal perspective, Moses deepened his relationship with God, secured a significant place in God’s program and died knowing that he had done the right thing for the people that God called him to lead and to serve.

At the foundation of Moses’ ability to serve his people was his relationship with God. It was this relationship that provided the understanding that God is the source of the responsibility and the privilege of leading the people. When things got tough, Moses took his cues from his Heavenly Father.

Moses as Leader – The Application

In our society, examples abound of leaders who abuse the privilege of their position. Decisions are made which provide wealth and security of the leader and those in his social circle. We can find examples in commercial enterprises and politics.

Our society is crying out for leaders who will lead for the benefit of the people below them on the organization chart. Thankfully, there are some leaders who do this, but not enough.

We see CEO’s making millions of dollars while laying off significant numbers of people. We see politicians leveraging future generations by spending money that they don’t have. Read the news headlines on any giving morning and you will find at least one example of the abuse of power.

Sadly, the visible church is not exempt from this behavior. We have seen decisions made in church organizations that are contrary to clear Scriptural teaching, all because of pressure from the outside or an attempt to swell the numbers in the auditorium.

To church leaders I offer this encouragement. If you are first-and-foremost tuned into God through prayer and Scripture reading, you will lead well and for the benefit of those you lead. Your people need you to have this relationship because like the people of Israel, the greatest need is to hear from God. We have the advantage of the written word, so read the word, live the word and preach the word.

As to those days when you are frustrated by the people you lead I offer this. God sees and he will be your refuge and strength.

Stand firm in that knowledge.