A Servant - The Humility Project for Fathers

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.” (Romans 1:1, ESV)

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (James 1:1, ESV)

“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:1, ESV)

In the Bible, servant is a carefully guarded and prized identity, never conferred on just anyone. The Lord called Abraham and Moses “my servant” (Genesis 26:24, Exodus 14:31). They were part of a small, elite group. Joshua, the flawless leader who followed Moses, had not quite measured up, at least not yet. Only much later after years of faithful service, Joshua was highly honored. “After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old” (Joshua 24:29, ESV, emphasis added). Joshua made it. King David would follow in receiving the honored designation (2 Samuel 3:18).

The title of servant was restricted for a reason. It was being held for THE servant, who was foretold by the prophet Isaiah and would astound the world in serving his people—even offering his life for their own. A title is made great by those who possessed that title before you, and Jesus is the true and first servant.

As we try to be faithful to Scripture’s discussion about humility, we know that humility is first before God, and it begins with our humble God who served us. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This is why the first disciples of Jesus prized the designation servant as among their most honored identities. Jesus was The Servant, and they were given the honor of following in his footsteps.

Jesus wants the image of him washing the disciples’ feet to stay in your mind (John 13). Watch him. As he takes the role of your servant, he is doing much more than washing smelly feet. The water symbolizes the daily cleansing that washes the sinful debris of your day.

So far, so good. But its power is lost on us if we don’t confess our sins. Humility begins with allowing the Servant-King to cleanse us first.

Many of us hang on to secret sins rather than confess them. Or maybe we believe other people should confess but we have been relatively decent. Perhaps we even believe we are simply too far gone or God is just too tired to forgive us.

The apostle John is straightforward. “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1 John 1:10, ESV). The psalmist is matter-of-fact: “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me” (Psalm 40:17, ESV). Whatever your beliefs about confession may be, do something now. Just start talking to the Lord. Tell him where you are. He knows, of course, but he values hearing it from you. This would also be a good time to talk to someone else about these things, too. If you have a spouse, she would be blessed by hearing you speak about it. If you have a friend, your confession would help him too.

Humility is before God first. You need his help and forgiveness. When you begin here, others will notice and you will be free to live out the way God has designed you. The Servant has brought you into his proud lineage. Like a new CEO who follows the most successful and revered CEO in company history, you are honored (yet a little concerned) that you will single-handedly bring down the prestige of the position. This position, however, is different than most. Jesus is with you now, and his Spirit will raise your game in a way that makes you worthy of the title “servant.” Abraham, Moses, and David are pleased to include you as one that God calls “my servant.”

In this vision of humility, servants are by no means silent. Their words, however, are tempered as they remember that they are served and loved by God. They do not receive what their sins deserve. Having been treated by God in this way, servants speak with wise love and have less interest in defending their rightness.

So talk to the Lord. Confess the sins of the day. Thank him for washing your feet. Talk to him about your thoughts on being a servant. Then take one step in serving others, perhaps by simply asking, “How can I help you?”