Servants, Leaders and Companions

When we become a Christian, our lives are forever changed. We gain so much in the way of new life and blessing. With this comes the responsibility to adopt new roles. I would suggest that each person newly birthed in Christ has a threefold responsibility in their calling.

We are called first and foremost to be followers, or servants. It’s not always easy to have a servant heart when one has been used to a culture that glorifies personal development and selfish ambitions and desires. The Christian life involves sacrifice. Our Saviour gave His all for us. The Bible tells us to “deny yourself” and “take up your cross daily.” (Luke 9).

Serving Christ means looking to Him as an example. Ephesians 5 tells us to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God^]as a fragrant aroma.” We read the Bible to understand more of God’s ways and attributes and how we should live. We fellowship with other Christians for teaching and to support and encourage one another. We pray for guidance. As we grow in Christ we hope to become more like Him – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)                                           

Serving others is very much a part of the Christian life and is one of our chief witnesses to the world that we are His. We are told to “serve one another with love” (Galatians 5:13). I once read of a church where anyone who wanted to be part of any kind of ministry had to first be listed on the cleaning roster. If you weren’t willing to clean the toilets, there was no place for you in the more popular ministries such as the music teams. This was a simple but effective method of encouraging a servant heart in the congregation.

It has been said that the church is the only organisation which exists for the benefit of its non-members. Not exactly true, because the church certainly has tremendous benefits for its members, but by the same token, our great commission given to the church at the time of Christ’s ascension was to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19, 20). We all have a mission field, whether it lies in our local neighbourhood or overseas. As such we are to serve those around us, ministering to their needs, so that they might sense and see the Holy Spirit at work in our and their lives.

Leadership is a topic which has come under discussion in the western church in recent years, in some cases to such an extent that it’s in danger of becoming a false idol, however, in its truest sense, leadership is a powerful gifting to the church body. We need godly leaders and God does indeed set aside certain individuals whom he calls to spearhead the church. This is biblical. For some it is a given calling to lead throughout their lives, as with a pastoral calling. I would suggest though that as Christians develop in their personal walk with God, He places many, and even most of His followers in less formal situations requiring leadership skills.

"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ … But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:5-9)

These verses proclaim what is known as the priesthood of believers. In Old Testament times, people could only approach God through the priests. Now, because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, each Christian believer can do what only a priest was formerly able to do- pray directly to God, intercede for others, teach about the Bible and lead others to Christ. I think that there can be no greater privilege of leadership on this earth than that of leading another in the prayer of repentance and faith in Jesus.

The privilege of leadership is also granted to those who lead ministries, who lead families, who supervise others in work situations and who are called upon to take the initiative in crisis situations. For some, leadership is a life long calling, for others it may be for a limited season.

Beyond serving or following and leading, as Christians we are all called to be people who will come alongside others. One of my favourite names for the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is the Parakletos, a Greek word meaning “one who comes alongside.” Ephesians 5 exhorts believers to “be filled with the spirit.” Being filled with the Holy Spirit of God means that we inherit His attributes of great love and compassion for others and desire to care for them. The word "companion" is derived from the Roman term "com" meaning together and the Latin word "panis" meaning bread, so a companion is one who shares your bread. As Christians we often share food and other practical necessities. We also share Christ, the bread of life.

 Other names for the Holy Spirit are Counsellor and Comforter, Advocate and Intercessor. It is these attributes of the Holy Spirit in us which enable Christians to care for others in a way which witnesses for the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit may provide us with insight into a situation which will allow intervention for its resolution, or may prompt us to contact a person in need of care. He provides the right words to minister. This world is a place of increasing personal suffering- pain, anguish, loneliness, depression, sickness and grief. It is only the love of Christ which can break through the darkness and offer real hope to those hurting.

Not only do Christians walk alongside others in times of hurting, but also come alongside in times of joy. We demonstrate genuine Christian love and laughter as we celebrate the deep and good things which Christ has blessed us with. 

We follow Christ. We both lead and are led by others. We come alongside others to share the love of Jesus. None of these things are exclusive, mostly Christians practise all three together in their spiritual walk. We live, no longer for just our own benefit, but for the love of others and particularly for the loving service of our Heavenly Father. To God be the glory.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)