Elsewhere in this issue, the characteristics of the true servant of the Lord are discussed, and surely these are most important. However, these characteristics are in one sense secondary, when compared with what is of supreme importance in the servant of the Lord — motivation. An elderly brother often reminded us, “If we did everything right, nothing would be right, unless the motive was right.” With the right motive, a servant with very little gift may do much for the Lord; without a right motive, the greatest gift may be misused or wasted.
We see a beautiful illustration of the right motive in the type referred to in the title of this article — an expression taken from Exodus 21:66Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. (Exodus 21:6). Here we find a Hebrew servant who had served his time for six years, and he was then entitled to go out free. But during his service, his master had given him a wife, who had borne him children. If he went out free, he must go by himself, for the wife and children belonged to the master. But there was provision for the servant to stay, and the words of Scripture are most touching and beautiful:
Very clearly, the picture is of the Lord Jesus, who, after having spent His time in His earthly ministry, was fully entitled to go out free. But His love would not let Him do that, and we notice the order of that love. The Master is mentioned first, then the wife and children. It was love to His Father and the desire to do His will that first of all motivated that perfect Servant. Then it was love to us, those who would become His bride, and love to His children of faith in Israel (Isa. 8:1818Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:18)) that hindered His going out free.
He was “brought to the judges,” and the sin question was faced. He went to the cross, typified by the boring of His ear through with an awl, and suffered the judgment for sin. Now He is able to remain with His Master, His wife and His children, for the ransom has been paid.
His Service on Earth
For our purposes in this article, we want to dwell on the phrase, “He shall serve him forever.” The Lord Jesus became a man in order to serve. Thus we read, “Even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:4545For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)). He could say, “I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:2727For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27)). His ministry was always according to the Father’s will, for He said, “The Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:2929And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)). However, in doing the Father’s will, He also came to minister to fallen man and eventually to “give His life a ransom for many.”
His Service in Glory
More than this, His service continues in glory! In His prayer to the Father in John 17, He begins by saying, “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee” (John 17:11These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (John 17:1)). He had fully glorified His Father on earth; now He asks to be glorified, but only in order that He may continue to glorify the Father in heaven. His service as man, begun down here, would continue up there. In heaven His service is for us, but in this He continues to glorify the Father, for He reminds the Father concerning us, “Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me” (John 17:66I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (John 17:6)).
His Future Service
Finally, we read in Luke 12:3737Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37), “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” When He brings us to that home where He is, He will make us sit down and will serve us. Such grace is beyond our understanding, yet it is there in the Word of God.
His Example for Us
All this ought to give the proper motive for any service we might do. In a world that is increasingly self-centered and self-seeking, the example of our blessed Master stands out, drawing out our hearts. If the One who “thought it not robbery to be equal with God” humbled Himself to serve, can we think ourselves above it? Can we disdain to serve that One who, having become a servant forever, will serve us in a coming eternity?
Scripture knows only one true motive for our service — love to Christ. His love enjoyed in the heart first of all makes us worshippers, and then it draws out our devotedness in service. Truly, “the love of Christ constraineth us ... that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15). We may serve because of conscience, and God graciously accepts and uses this, but true service springs from a motive of love. To be sure, there is a price to be paid to engage in such service — a price that the natural heart will not pay. The Lord Jesus could tell His disciples, “Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:43-4443But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. (Mark 10:43‑44)). It is only in looking at Calvary’s cross that we will be ready to pay the price of humility and rejection in order to serve down here. If we are to serve the Lord in this world, He says, “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me” (John 12:2626If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. (John 12:26)). To serve the Lord is to follow a rejected Christ.
We must remember too that our time for service is limited. It is only in this life that we have the privilege of serving; when we are called home, it will be a time for reward and for eternal rest. Let us use our time well, for as another has put it, “Eternity will be appreciated only in the measure that we have rightly handled time!” I well remember a verse of a poem that my mother quoted to me when I was young, and I have never forgotten it:
“I sometimes feel the thread of life is
slender,
And soon with me the labor will be
wrought;
Then grows my heart to other hearts
more tender:
The time,
The time is short.”
Elizabeth Prentiss
(Go to the following address:
BibleTruthPublishers.com/la50254
to read the entire thirteen-stanza poem.)
W. J. Prost