Boaz—Malaysia

Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series on understanding who we are. The first part examined how Christians should manage dual and contrasting identities. This article focuses on who God wants us to be and the spiritual aspects He wants us to cultivate as His workers.

WHOSE OPINION MATTERS?

When we ponder the question “Who am I?”, whose perspective should we consider? How others view us is important and can help us understand what kind of person we are. What do our actions and behavior reveal about us, especially in light of our Christian identity? Whatever opinions people make about us will, in turn, impact how they see Christians as a whole. Thus, we must be mindful of whether we are good Christians in the eyes of others and live up to the image of Christ.

Nevertheless, we should not hold the opinion of others in too high regard. For example, it is not important whether others perceive us as wealthy, beautiful, or gifted because these are temporal (Jas 1:11). Despite this, we also do not wish to be seen as poor, plain, or mediocre.

To put things into perspective, we must always ask, “Who am I in my own eyes?” This question helps us better understand our status, leading to a more balanced view of ourselves. As God’s workers, we should neither think too highly of ourselves nor suffer from an inferiority complex, for the Lord has dealt each of us different gifts (Rom 12:3–8; Prov 16:5; Rev 3:17).

Who Am I in God's Eyes?

Ultimately, God’s opinion of us is the most important of all, because He is the final Judge:

            But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. (1 Cor 4:3–4)

Paul reminds us that no matter how well-regarded we are by others or how righteous we perceive ourselves to be, only God’s judgment stands. The Chinese proverb, “Do not judge a man until the lid of his coffin has closed,” is a reminder that one can only truly be assessed after one’s death. However, whether others judge us to be successful or virtuous does not matter. When we depart from this earth, the most beautiful eulogies will not increase our chances of entering the kingdom of heaven. God is the only and final Judge. Hence, in this life and our service to God, there is no question more important than who we are in God's eyes. What kind of believer does God want us to be?

1. SHEPHERD AND SERVANT

We can learn much about being a shepherd from the apostle Peter.

            Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Pet 5:2–4)

Although this message was directed at the elders at the time, its teaching is relevant for all believers, not just ordained church ministers. Many of us carry the responsibility of a shepherd, whether as a parent, a religious education teacher, or a member caring for fellow brethren, among others.

First and foremost, we must recognize who has ultimate authority over the flock. Peter addressed Jesus as the "Chief Shepherd"—the leader of all shepherds. This means there is only one head, one leader, and one commander within the church, the house of God. It is Jesus Christ.

Second, we must understand how to shepherd. Rulers of the world rule with power and authority (Mt 20:25). Shepherds in the kingdom of God do not. In the workplace, superiors order their subordinates to work because they have the authority to do so. In contrast, the shepherd is a role model for his lambs. As the adage goes, example is better than precept. The Lord Jesus set us an example in all things—baptism, footwashing, keeping the Sabbath, and even in suffering for righteousness' sake.

The apostle Paul echoes Peter's reminder of the shepherd's heart of care for God's flock:

            [F]or if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? (1 Tim 3:5)

We are called not to manage the church dispassionately; instead, we must tend to God's household with a caring heart. In the original Greek text, the word for “take care” has the same root (epimeléomai) as the word used in the parable of the good Samaritan, who “took care” of the injured man (Lk 10:34). Always remember that we are shepherds caring for believers, not managers barking curt orders at employees in meeting rooms. We are not hirelings who only show care and concern during official "work hours." Hirelings feel no deep connection to their charges. They finish work on the dot, put away their shepherding staff, and go home. Should something unexpected happen to the lambs in the middle of the night, the hireling would say, "Please do not come knocking on my door to disturb me." Even when the hireling is on duty, do not expect him to sacrifice his life to save the lambs from predators. The hireling does not go the extra mile because the little lambs are not his. In contrast, true shepherds love their sheep with a parent's heart. Parents have no qualms sacrificing sleep to nurse their sick child or toiling hard to give their families a better life.

Third, shepherds fulfill their roles regardless of time or place. We are religious education teachers not only during lesson time but also outside the confines of the classroom walls. We care for each other as brethren not only within the church, but also when we have returned to our respective homes. Paul demonstrates what it means to have the heart of a shepherd. Besides laboring hard and willingly enduring physical tribulations and persecution, his heart was always deeply concerned for the members (2 Cor 11:28).

In 1 Peter 5:2–4, the apostle Peter also teaches us about servanthood: we are to serve willingly and eagerly. Peter would have recalled what his Master and Teacher had once taught them and how the Lord set them an example.

            Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mt 20:26–28)

Being a servant (Greek: diákonos) or a slave (Greek: doûlas) is not humiliating. In fact, despising people in these positions would be tantamount to despising the Lord Jesus, because this was the form He took when He was on earth (Phil 2:7). Our Lord deliberately chose to be a servant to serve believers, and taught us how to serve through His actions. He lowered Himself and bent over to wash His disciples' feet. If Jesus was willing to take up a job deemed inferior by others, what is our basis for rejecting this beautiful work? 

A servant stands by unobtrusively (Gen 18:8) and is alert to the slightest indication of his master's needs (Lk 17:7–8). In the church today, some believers willingly lower themselves to serve quietly like a servant. They may go unnoticed by others, but they notice everything the church needs. What lies behind such willingness to labor? Consider why Jacob was willing to work fourteen years for Laban under dreadful conditions.

            “There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes." (Gen 31:40)

Jacob was willing to suffer because of his love for Rachel. Similarly, those who labor faithfully and quietly do so because they love Jesus and the church. Their love is not limited to a certain number of hours per day. 

2. A LEARNED TONGUE AND EAR

            So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak. (Jas 1:19a)

God has given us both tongue and ear and asks that we use our ears more and our tongues less. Ironically, we do the converse—we always demand that others listen to what we have to say. As shepherds and servants of God, what are the best ways to use our ears and tongue to serve His flock?

The Ear of the Learned

            "The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned." (Isa 50:4)

The function of the ear is to receive. Ultimately, the learned must use his tongue to support and encourage the weak. However, to be learned, one must first be taught, and be keen to learn. What then should our attitude towards learning God's word be?

Morning by morning

Learning is lifelong. The learned knows that understanding God's word is not achieved overnight, nor is it a one-time effort. In fact, as the learned greatly esteems the learning of the word, he strives to learn as long as he lives.

Awakened

The phrase "He awakens" is used twice in this passage. It refers to waking up from sleep or being stirred up. Our slumbering ears must be woken up from their sleep. We must allow our ears to be awakened by God’s word, especially by listening to sermons. 

Different people prefer different sermon styles and content. Some sermons are based on traditional expositions of the Bible that we have heard from young; others use creative explanations to evoke a sense of realization. Some sermons contain interesting anecdotes and surprising twists, while others take on a more didactic tone. Regardless of the style and content of the sermon, our ears and hearts must always be open to God's message.

To hear

As Christians, we are open to hearing and accepting the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Besides His recorded words in the Bible, Jesus may speak to us through the people around us. When we begin our service, we happily take advice from our seniors and elders. However, the longer we serve in the ministry, the more we should sincerely reflect on whether we are willing to hear and accept the words of our co-workers. Do we give sufficient consideration to the opinions of our co-workers? Even more critically, do we reflect on ourselves and improve after hearing encouragement and correction from our co-workers?

The Tongue of the Learned

Once we have the ear of the learned, the Lord will bestow upon us the tongue of the learned. At this moment, the learned, having received education from God, will become the giver. 

What are God's expectations of our tongue?

To speak to the weary

The learned must pass on everything he has learned and freely received from God to others. As we use our tongues to teach and encourage others, we ought to remember that our tongues are not for competing to be the most popular or impactful sermon speaker, for winning theological debates and showcasing our "wisdom" during Bible studies or faith discussions, or for malicious criticism and gossip about others. Instead, our tongues must be used to help and support those who are weary—those who are spiritually weak.

The Obedience of the Learned

            The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away. (Isa 50:5)

In Isaiah 50:4, the ear is awakened by the Lord and receives His teachings, allowing us to become learned. In Isaiah 50:5, the ear is opened by the Lord and receives His instructions, allowing us to become His servant. Since we have received so much from God, more will be required from us (Lk 12:48). Gaining deeper spiritual insights through God's guidance should not puff us up with pride. In fact, the more spiritual knowledge we gain from God, the more submissive we will be expected to be. 

Jesus exemplified this perfectly through His total obedience to the will of the heavenly Father. The author of Hebrews records how Jesus cited Psalm 40 to describe His calling and ministry:

            Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. …
“I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart. ” (Psa 40:6, 8, emphasis added)

            Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
Then I said, 'Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ” (Heb 10:5–7, emphasis added)

What is the relationship between opening the ear and preparing a body? In the Old Testament, the Hebrew servant must be freed after serving six years. However, if the servant wants to stay with his master, his ear will be pierced (Ex 21:5–6). Therefore, piercing the ear signals that a man will give up his freedom, be his master's servant, and obey his master's commands forever. Since freedom is such a precious human right, piercing the ear is clearly not an action taken to gain a greater reward. Instead, it is done out of sincere love for his master.

            [Christ Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. (Phil 2:7–9)

"Opening the ear” and “preparing the body" refer to how Jesus submitted to the will of the heavenly Father. While He was in His body of flesh, He took the form of a bondservant. While torn between choices, He offered up His body to become the burnt and sin offerings. He put aside His own will and submitted to God's will—this is what being a servant entails. He who has his ear opened will become humbler the more he serves and, all the more, submit to Christ and the church.

CONCLUSION

Jesus submitted to God’s will while He was alive on earth. As a servant, He tasted the lowliness of man and sufferings on earth. Therefore, when He resurrected, the heavenly Father exalted Him as the most high—every knee shall bow before Him, and every tongue shall praise Him (Phil 2:7–11). The message is enduring and clear. Who I am in this life will determine who I will be in the life to come. If I am a rich fool in this life, I will have no part with the Lord in the life to come. If I am a submissive servant in this life, I shall reign with Him in the life to come (2 Tim 2:12).

So as we serve God in His church, let us remember who we are in God’s eyes—a loving and selfless shepherd, and a faithful and obedient servant, whose ear is continually awakened by God’s word and whose tongue is ready to comfort and teach.

 

APPENDIX: SERVICE IN ACTION

During a youth group visit to an interstate church, an elder took on the responsibility of receiving them. As he was also pastoring other churches in the region, he got up early in the morning to see to the youths' well-being before leaving to conduct services at the other churches. Then at the end of a busy day, he took it upon himself to continue serving the visiting youth during their evening barbecue. Not only had the elder prepared the ingredients for the barbecue the previous night, he also helped with the grilling. After the youths had enjoyed the delicious barbecue, he led the youths in cleaning up.

Whether serving on or off the pulpit, this elder fully manifested the spirit of a servant (Lk 17:7–10). Through his conduct, believers around him saw and learned what it means to be a humble and faithful servant.