Author's Note: Yes I know it has been too long since my last post...busyness and laziness plus lack of inspiration have attributed to this fact (case in point - I've been interrupted 2 times just trying to get this part typed). I appreciate all you who read this and desire never to simply blog for the sake of blogging but write those things that will hold value. I would hate for the few minutes it takes to read this to have been wasted. This blog was spurred out of a teaching our pastor did on this very verse. I hope you are blessed. And again, I enjoy the feedback...
"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." - 1 Corinthians 4:1
The word "servants" there comes not from the typical Greek word of "doulos" (which simply means "slave" or "servant") but rather "hyperetes" which literally means "underrower". An underrower was one of the men in the bottom of the ship who had to row to a beat of a drum (for illustration purposes click here) and were often chained to the oar. If the ship went down, they went down with the ship. The underrower never received any attention - as one watched a ship move past it would be doubtful that you would ever hear "wow, aren't those rowers amazing. Look at how they get that boat to move in the sea. How I wish I could be an underrower some day." No, those conversations just didn't take place because an underrower was a servant that did all the work but didn't get any of the glory.
So too are we! We are called to be underrowers - those who serve Christ because He is our Savior & Master whose whole desire is to give Him all the glory.
It is easy for people to say they are servants for Christ and yet a whole other thing to really mean it, especially if there isn't glory or attention being passed down that way. Would you really be doing what you are doing right now for Christ if you never received acclamation for the job you are doing? Are you really okay if you never receive a title or position with ministry? A "no" to any of these questions means you have failed to understand your position in Christ as a servant, but thankfully God is gracious and will change your heart as you pray through this.
Anytime a person states, "that's not my ministry" my mind wanders if they understand we are mere servants of Christ. Granted, not every person can fill every need or try to fill every need or is even called to every need. But one must look at their own heart to see if they are not doing something because it doesn't carry any title, position, or acclamation from the onlookers. As a college pastor I don't necessarily have the time to teach the children's ministry full time, but if I was asked to switch would I be willing to? Or would I think children's ministry is somehow less important than the ministry I'm doing (which by the way, if you are in a church that thinks children's ministry is somehow less important than any other ministry, you may not want to have your kids attend it)?
My job is not to have my name known here on earth or establish some sort of kingdom for me. My job is to have Jesus' name known here on earth...it has nothing to do with me! The same is true with you so say that with me, "it has nothing to do with me!"
When we understand we are merely underrowers for Christ, we will take more pleasure in simply serving. Oh, if seminaries and other institutions would simply teach that degrees and education is simply for education - not for making our names great - how much more good could we do!
Next time you start worrying about yourself when it comes to serving, focus on the One who you should be serving!
