CHRISTIAN SERVICE PART1

Guest Writer: Jeff Archer

f we are to be Christians—followers of Christ—we must imitate His character. He identified one of His main purposes in life, saying, “the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”  (Matt. 20:28). The word, “minister,” means to be a servant, to render service.

his not only applies to preachers, but to all who will imitate Christ. The occasion of Jesus’ statement puts this basic principle into perspective. The mother of James and John came to Him asking that her sons be placed in positions of great authority. The other disciples were indignant against their two brethren. These men wanted to be great ones—masters, lords. Jesus told them that in the Gentile world the lords ruled with a high hand, but His kingdom would be noticeably different. He said, “But whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister….”

his principle is at the core of obedience to Christ. There are many applications of this principle, all of which involve our relationships with God and with other people. We are to render service unto God, to our brethren, to those in the world, to our families, to our employers—the list goes on. In fact, I cannot think of a relationship in which this principle of servitude does not apply. In his inaugural address (January 20, 1989), former president George Herbert Walker Bush prayed the following.

eavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: “Use power to help people,” for we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord. Amen.

et me make a couple of observations concerning the basis of this attitude. First, to render service we must change the way we look at others and ourselves. Those in the world look out for #1, spending their time making sure their own opinions are heard and respected. But Paul wrote, “through love be servants one to another” (Gal. 5:13; see also 1 Cor. 9:19). Our service must be based on love, which is not selfish but selfless, because it looks for the best interests of others, and elevates their needs above one’s own. This doesn’t mean that we tear ourselves down but that we exalt others. In matters of personal preference, we must be willing to humble ourselves and to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. Is this not what Jesus did?

econd, we must change the way we look at our reward. Too often we do things so that we will look good or so that others will pat us on the back or give us a place of honor. We will serve others only if we know they will then serve us in return. In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke of giving alms to, or serving others. We must do so, not that it might improve our position in the church or in the community or in someone else’s mind, but for the glory of God. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Our responsibility is to humble ourselves. We must leave the exalting to God!

[Next Week: “Christian Service #2”]

“HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Guest Writer: W. Bruce Tooley

he second component of “the whole armor of God” is “the breastplate of righteousness" (Eph. 6:14). The literal breastplate was a coat fashioned of chain mail or armor, which covered the body from neck to thigh. It was often made of overlapped metal rings or scales (1 Sam. 17:5). Its purpose was protecting the vulnerable parts, especially the vital organs, such as the heart, where wounds might prove fatal. The spiritual breastplate protects the spiritual heart, like a bulletproof vest protects the physical heart.

ccording to Vine, “righteousness” is “the character or quality of being right or just…formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning” (p. 980). A Christian must protect himself by being righteous; without this spiritual breastplate he will surely fall in battle. But how does an individual “put on” righteousness?

esus taught that righteousness is to be obtained by conforming oneself to the commandments of God (Matt. 5:6,10,20). Whatever God commands we must obey (Matt. 3:15; 21:32). The gospel reveals God's plan for bestowing righteousness (Rom. 1:16,17). He does so on the basis of His grace, by means of the shed blood of Jesus, and on the condition of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God.

herefore, in order to best defend ourselves we must put on righteousness as it is revealed in the Bible. We do so by keeping ourselves free from immorality and other forms of sin—by abstaining from alcohol and drugs, and refraining from lying, cursing, covetousness, stealing, from lust, adultery, etc. (Gal. 5:19-21).

od has not left us defenseless! We are completely protected if we will only follow the instructions given in the Bible. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

[Next Week: “Having Shod Your Feet with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace”]