{"id":227694,"date":"2023-07-18T11:14:57","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/?p=227694"},"modified":"2024-08-14T12:38:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T16:38:01","slug":"sharing-jesus-through-servanthood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/sharing-jesus-through-servanthood\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharing Jesus Through Servanthood"},"content":{"rendered":"

Servanthood shapes our lives in a vast number of ways. We serve others when we help meet their physical needs. We serve others when we teach them or offer guidance. We serve others when we feed them, care for them medically, or provide them with comfort. Servanthood shows up in big acts of kindness such as these, but it also shows up in small ways with the people who are the closest to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

I serve my children, for example, when I take extra time to help them with a homework problem. I serve my wife when I offer to cook dinner, do the dishes, fix the car, build a set of bookshelves, or simply lay down my desires for what is in her best interests. Servanthood manifests itself in an almost endless number of ways. Therefore, a chapter that focuses on what a servant does could be longer than anyone would care to read. Suffice it to say that servanthood shows up in virtually every action of our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because servanthood manifests itself so broadly, the last thing I want to suggest is that there are just one or two ways we primarily serve Jesus. Being a servant applies to everything we do. Yet I want to argue in this chapter that as servants, we must always be faithful to one priority\u2014sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people God puts in our lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Too often, Christians busy themselves with silly debates over the best way to help people experience the love of God. Some say we should show the love of Christ by our actions, being cautious not to offend others with our words. However, if we don\u2019t connect the dots between our actions and God\u2019s love, the result will be people with nothing more than fuzzy misunderstandings about God\u2019s love and grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, others say we shouldn\u2019t focus on showing our love for others but on preaching Jesus to them. However, this approach often doesn\u2019t accomplish what we seek because the message doesn\u2019t line up with the actions of the messenger. Advocates of these two differing approaches are often deeply critical of each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

Notice the either\/or nature of the debate. For both sides, it is either their approach or the other approach. Might we ask, however, why is it an either\/or? Or, to press the point harder, shouldn\u2019t we think of acts of service and evangelism in a both\/and way?<\/span><\/p>\n

I firmly believe the both\/and approach is the better way. Kind service and clear gospel proclamation are not antithetical to each other. Even more, they are both mandated to us by Christ Himself. So then, the doing of servanthood, which has almost limitless application, should be accompanied by clear gospel sharing. But the opposite is also true: our gospel sharing should be accompanied by clear demonstrations of servanthood. While some want to debate approaches, I want to join the two. We must serve others with our actions, and we must also share Jesus with them. Next I will highlight a few simple points about how to share Jesus as we serve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proclaiming and Serving Together<\/b><\/p>\n

First Corinthians emphasizes the point I made above. In 1 Corinthians 2:1\u20132, Paul writes, \u201cWhen I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I <\/span>did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.\u201d Paul here reminds the Corinthians of what matters most <\/span>in his ministry to them. Above all else, he wants to know that they believe in Jesus who was crucified for them. For those who think all we really need to do is preach the gospel and forget about showing love through our actions, these verses may seem to make their point. After all, Paul does seem to say that preaching Jesus is what matters most. Paul wasn\u2019t concerned with impressive arguments or eloquent wisdom. Instead, he just preached Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this view ignores the rest of what Paul said in his two letters to the Corinthians, as well as everything He did for them when he visited them. The full picture of Paul\u2019s minis<\/span>try makes clear that he cared for them in every possible way. Paul gave himself to them and served as a faithful shepherd. In 1 Corinthians 9:19\u201323, he describes the way he became a <\/span>servant to all people for the sake of the gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t