Once a servant is well prepared,
he learns from the Lord Jesus in realizing effective results:
A.
Listening
A servant must be able to hear
clearly the master’s will. Jesus prayed each morning before dawn (Mk ) so that he may be clear in the
Father’s will. This way he serves without losing direction. When people crowded
him for healing, he reminded the disciples that he was sent to preach the words
of life (Mk 1:38); Jesus did not fill every request for physical healing for he
knew benefiting the spirit is much more important than benefiting the flesh.
B.
Seeing
A servant for God needs to see
beyond the surface in order to prescribe the cure. When a paralytic was brought
to Jesus, he saw through their faiths. He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your
sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5). The paralytic was healed.
In order to find the solution to a problem one must look beneath and thoroughly
understand and analyze the issues. For example, to build up the faith of the
entire family, one must lead by forming smaller groups that make up the family.
C.
Thinking
When faced with the woman caught
in adultery, Jesus bent down to writing on the ground. He did not rush to
answer the accusers. Once he was ready he simply asked, “anyone
without sin may cast the first stone.” The scriptures taught us to be quick in
listening, slow in speaking, and slow in anger. Before we speak we should think
through, seek wisdom from God, and end up speaking edifying words.
D.
Speaking
Everything Jesus said was of
benefit to others. Nathanael asked, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from
there?” (Jn 1:46)
Jesus said, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
This response cleared the misunderstanding of Nathanael. A good servant must
consider, what to say and how to say it so that it is edifying.
E.
Doing
Jesus once said, “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” (Mk 10:45). He did what he said. He exhibited his love fully
by washing his disciples’ feet showing his love, humbleness, and compassion. A
common fault today is that people tend to speak much while do little. In terms
of church work, it should be speak little while doing much.
A faithful servant will not waver for
the sake of name or personal benefit. Jesus fed the five thousand with five
loaves and two fish. The people wanted
to make him king yet Jesus retreated to the mountain to pray. (Jn 6:5) Jesus never let the glory of being king cloud his
senses. For the sake of the work of the cross, even when his life is in danger,
he never moved in his loyalty to the Father. “In any case, I must keep going today
and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!”
(Lk 13:33)
Jesus’ examples show us how to be
good servants. We are honored to be His servant. As long as we learn to be good
servants, we will loyally accept our assignments and always look to the Lord as
our example.
