How to become a servant of God
God’s servants are those who receive and obey God’s instructions.5 In order to become a servant of God, you need to learn something about God’s will and seek to bring it to pass.
To serve God is to prioritize his interests above your own.6 You cannot serve God if anything else in your life holds a higher priority than his purpose.7 Service to God requires singleness of purpose8 and your full intensity.9
Those who claim to serve God yet do not obey him are not his servants.10 If you disobey God’s instructions or work against his purposes, you are not his servant.1164 You can occupy your time in seemingly religious duties, even with fervor and true intent, and still not be a servant of God if you don’t actually obey what God says1165 and do what he would rather you do.1166
A servant of God is distinguished by their obedience to God, not a title or office held in a church. Church office is not required to serve God, and church office is not an adequate replacement for actually serving him. You can hold a position in a church without serving God.1167 An appointment to a church office does not magically confer power or holiness onto the occupant, as it does not force them to adopt the purpose of God or become more like him. Church offices are meant to be occupied by those who are already like Christ,1168 not those who hope to one day become like him.1169
Footnotes
- 1. Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen. (Moses 6:68) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4) ↩
- 2. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour (John 1:39) ↩
- 3. Jesus called his disciples his friends, yet all of them “forsook him, and fled” in his time of need (see Mark 14:50). ↩
- 4. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:35-36) ↩
- 5. Some scriptures figuratively refer to those who unknowingly advance his purposes as his servants (see, for example, references to Nebuchadnezzar as God’s servant in Jeremiah 25:9). In this chapter, only those who willingly and intentionally serve God are discussed. ↩
- 6. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (Luke 17:7-8) ↩
- 7. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24) And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. (Mark 3:24-26) ↩
- 8. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. (Ephesians 6:5-7) ↩
- 9. ...love the Lord your God...walk in all his ways...cleave unto him, and...serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua 22:5) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. (Colossians 3:22-23) ↩
- 10. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) ↩