A Simple “Thank you”
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Recently in Bible study, I had the gals play a game to help emphasize servanthood. Asking for volunteers, four women came up. Two were asked to sit in chairs while the other two stood behind them. I gave the seated gals each a gift-wrapped box (A VERY well, thoroughly wrapped box! And YES, I had fun tapping the boxes.) Also handing each gal a pair of thick oversized gloves. Giving them all the same instructions, we started with a hardy “Open …Go!” Running those gloves over corners, across the top, turning over and down the sides, they prevailed. While doing this, those standing behind gave encouraging cheers, “You got this!” After a couple of minutes of attempting of what seemed the impossible, the gals were asked to trade places. They too gave great attempt, working the tape, the paper, listening to their encourager’s advice, they acted.
Soon I bent over and gently handed the gift holder gals each a pair of scissors. With gloved hands, they began to cut, now with a little more headway. Then stepping behind each gal, I whispered, “Take off the gloves.” Doing so, those gifts were devoured. One gal got her box opened; its content was chocolate truffles, a great reward for all their hard work. The second box was finally opened, in their box, taped to the bottom was a yellow sticky note that simply read, “Thank You.” Servanthood.
So it is with us. We are all given the same God instructions – to sum it all up: “Serve Me, as you serve one another.” (See Heb. 13:16, Ja. 2:14-17, 1 Jn 3:18, Matt. 5:16, Ro. 12:9-13, Deut. 15:11, Gal. 6:2) The word serve conveys the apparent, ‘to do, to make.’ Yet it can be broken down to the simplest, caring for someone’s needs. Multiple times in the bible, folks gave volunteer titles of a servant. Young Samuel, “Speak for Your servant is listening…” Paul, not only an Apostle, the great leader and trainer of the church, declares: “A bondservant of Christ…” James, Jesus’ brother, the one who at first couldn’t quite get his head and heart around his older brother as the Son of God, said, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” Servanthood.
Our game taught us that at times as a servant, a God servant – we are given a task that at first attempt seems impossible. We hold it in our hands, rolling it around, looking for the best game plan. All the while, others nearby cheer us on, spurring us on, their encouragement pouring into us. Working as a team at times is invaluable. One pours, the other receives. At times it is switched. (Team; Together – Everyone – Achieves – More.)
Servanthood may require we leave our comfort zone, stepping out, stepping up. The instructions may seem easier said than done, and there may be a few hindrances. (Thus the gloves) There will be times God whispers for us to shed hindrances, so we can thoroughly grasp His tool for the task. May we be so very careful not to be envious of others gifts and tools. Motive checking is also a must (NOT easy) is our serving, following the instructions ONLY for the reward? The reward may not be what we are expecting; we may get a simple “Thank you.” A “Well done good and faithful servant.” God gives us all gifts, these gifts (tools) are given FOR the body of Christ, not to be put in our back pocket for safe keeping, they are for use, creative use for one another.
“Open … Go!” Serve.
Servanthood.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Inspired Fountain 