Articles
“Bondservants Of Christ”
One of the key themes Christians need to appreciate is that in making the choice to no longer serve Satan and instead serve the Creator, we are voluntarily "signing up" to be slaves of Christ. Throughout the New Testament, inspired writers routinely referred to themselves and to those they were teaching as bondservants and any true understanding of our roles need to consider what it means to be bondservants of the One who gave His own life in full service to His Father and to each of us.
Paul used the term to describe himself on three separate occasions in his letters (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1). In doing so, this incredible worker in the kingdom wasn't boasting about himself but rather using a strong term to impress his listeners, both then and today, with the seriousness of service to God. In being a bondservant of Christ, Paul clearly understood and wanted others to understand that that also required service to others. The apostle writes, "We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (II Corinthians 4:5). What an incredible thought -- by serving one another we serve the Christ!
Paul would continue this line of reasoning when he wrote the Ephesians and addressed the subject of master/servant relations. We often (and appropriately so) use this to illustrate the attitude we should have to our modern employers. Paul writes, "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh... as to Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians 6:5-6). Parents tell their children that God sees everything. Adults will do well to remember this too as He sees how we work and knows our attitudes better than anyone!
Of course, the greatest encouragement in terms of being a bondservant comes from the fact that Jesus was THE quintessential bondservant in His life of sacrificial obedience. Paul writes that Jesus, "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). No one forced Jesus to leave the "glories of heaven" in order to come to this earth. Instead, out of incredible allegiance to the Father and as a result of amazing grace for us, Jesus chose to serve us. The best way to honor Him is to serve others and in doing so, serve Him. On Judgment Day, what a blessing to have God Himself call us "Bondservants of Christ!"
The obvious question for you and for me is to address whether or not we are included in this blessed group of men and women who not only know that we are called bondservants but also to be able to live out the responsibilities of those slaves who try to share with the a lost and dying world the value of such service. Knowing how great our Master is, we ought to really try to share His greatness with others so that they too can experience the greatness of fellowship with our eternal God.
