The past few weeks, we’ve been learning about our identity. God purposefully left much about our own selves a mystery for us to discover and to have revealed. Life is an adventure discovering ourselves and, hopefully, pursuing Jesus.
This morning, we’re continuing to learn more about this topic. It’s been said that you can’t know yourself by yourself. You can’t know yourself by yourself.
In other words, we learn the most about ourselves through our interactions with other people. God purposed us with an innate need for others; for relationship. We were created in the image of God, who Himself, exists in relationship; Father, Son, and Spirit.
The first revelation that mankind needed to have, the first discovery that we needed to make for ourselves, was that it was not good for us to be alone. As Adam was naming the animals, that is exactly what he realized.
God then created Eve and brought the two of them together in relationship.
Some of the greatest things that this life has to offer come through relationships with others. Of course, some of the most horrific pain and torment can also come through relationships with others.
Adam and Eve found this out when they were tempted by the serpent in the garden. That relationship opened them up to temptation and lead them down the path to sin and all of the negative consequences that sin brings.
Relationships bring revelation to us about ourselves. We get to know ourselves through the various mirrors of other people.
Of course, the greatest and purest revelation that we can receive about who we are and why we are can only come from the One who created us!
It is through relationships with others that we learn character traits that we admire and appreciate in others. It’s also through relationships that we learn what we don’t like in others and even within ourselves.
We are able to determine the hard way through relationships of why God’s ways are best.
Would we rather have peace with someone or experience their fits of rage?
Would we rather have safety in the faithfulness of someone or expect them to fail us and abandon us?
Would we rather be around someone who is self-controlled and level-headed or someone with selfish ambition who won’t think twice about stabbing you in the back?
Others can make us desire to be better people. Sometimes to be more like them and sometimes to be nothing like them! The more that we get to know Jesus, the more that we want to be more like Him!
So, how should we think about relationships with others?
How should we respond to others?
Philippians 1:27
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 2:3-18
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death –
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Although some of us are more independent than others, all of us need others. That means that all of us were created with an identity of being servants. We were all created to serve the needs of others even as others serve the needs that we have. Only together are we complete.
Jesus, the God of all of the universe, who lacks nothing and needs nothing, chose to become a servant.
God created all of us to serve and serve we will. The question is what we will choose to serve. Will we choose to serve ourselves? Our own fleshly, lustful desires? Or will we choose to serve others? Laying down ourselves in order to building others up?
Just like Jesus, the apostle Paul chose the latter. Even while he was being poured out like a drink offering sacrificing and serving, he was able to rejoice and be glad because it was benefiting the faith of others. It was building up the church.
Jesus was equal to God in nature, even while He was humbled in our human flesh. He could have called down legions of angels to come to His rescue instead of sacrificing Himself on the cross.
He chose us instead of Himself.
He chose humble service.
He chose to touch lepers.
He chose to eat with tax collectors.
He chose to defend adulterers.
He chose to wash feet.
He chose to deliver the demonized.
He chose to lift up the down trodden.
He set captives free.
He healed the sick and diseased.
He befriended the unfriendly.
He chose the cross.
He chose you.
Here is a very slight, but tremendously significant distinction that we often fail to recognize in our relationships with others.
We are called to serve, but not be slaves.
We are called to serve, but to retain our freedom.
This all comes down to choice even as it did for Jesus. In our relationships with others, we are to have the same mindset as Jesus; He chose to serve.
The difference between slavery and servanthood is choice.
A slave is obligated and forced to act.
A servant is compelled and free to act.
A slave surrenders their identity and purpose and pleasure.
A servant reveals their identity, fulfills their purpose, and enjoys their work.
Choice.
Jesus taught:
Matthew 5:38-41
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Do you see the transformation that takes place in this teaching? A transformation takes place from slave to servant!
You are forced as a slave to get slapped in the face, give up your shirt, and walk a mile.
You choose as a servant to turn the other cheek, give your coat, and walk the extra mile.
You start as being overpowered by the person who slaps you, takes your shirt, and makes you walk.
You end empowered and breaking the yoke of slavery over you by offering the other cheek, giving your coat, and walking some more.
We, as Christians, are servants, not slaves. We have been set free by Jesus and whomever He sets free is free indeed! We are empowered to choose!
Servants are free to choose to serve. Slaves are powerless and serve with no choice.
In your relationships with others, be like Jesus. Choose. No one took His life from Him, He chose to surrender it. It was not stolen from Him, it was given by Him. He washed feet, but He didn’t get walked all over.
We are called to serve, but to serve by choice and by exercising our will.
Do not allow yourself to be used and do not use other people.
God created objects to be used.
Food to be eaten.
Water to drink.
Soil to plow.
Wood to be cut.
Objects were created to be used.
People were created to be loved.
Love requires a choice.
Love that is not chosen is not love at all!
Do not take advantage of others or allow others to take advantage of you!
Serve willingly.
Do not serve out of guilt or obligation or remorse.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
This admonish goes beyond the context of just sexual immorality. It is a sin, not God’s will, that we would wrong or use or take advantage of others or allow ourselves to be wronged, used, or taken advantage of as well.
This is the very slight, but tremendously significant distinction that we often fail to recognize in our relationships with others. Are we choosing to serve them or are we enslaved by them?
Are we doing things willingly in the freedom that Jesus has given us or are we forced to do things out of obligation?
One is blessed and one is sin.
The act can be exactly the same, but it our hearts and our motives that need to be checked and revealed.
From which of our identities are we doing the action from?
From our identity as a freed child of God as a servant?
OR
From our identity as a slave to sin?
A very slight, but tremendously significant distinction! Peter even wrote this to literal slaves in how they chose to serve their masters.
It all comes down to heart motive and from a realization of our true identities. Even those who are enslaved by earthly masters can serve those earthly masters from an identity as a free person in Christ!
1 Peter 2:18-21
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Choosing to serve as a servant, even in literal slavery!
What does this look like in practical application?
How do we literally live out this identity as a servant?
Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are servants of the Lord most high!
Let’s go out there and serve, not by force, but by choice!