“Servants” almost from the beginning of time have been looked down on. Following people’s standards, it’s understandable. After all, the servants were practically at the bottom of the food chain. They had no rights and can only do the things that their masters have told them. It’s not really the best situation to be in, if we were to base it on worldly perspective.

Maybe it’s because of the “It’s All About Me” perspective that we’re trained to have. As they say, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and if you don’t go and fight your way to the top, someone will go and knock you out in his/her desire to be in that coveted spot. We’re too focused on what we want to achieve for ourselves that we fail to pay attention to everyone else. If ever we do look around us, it’s probably because we want to see how they’re faring, and how we can be on top of them all.

Cynical? Yeah, probably, but that’s really how we operate these days. That’s why it’s so hard for us to go and follow Jesus’ command, to go and be the servant of all (Mark 9:35).  

Servant. That’s what we who work for the ministries are called. For some of us, it really means doing the typical chores that servants (or helpers, as they’re called now, to be politically correct), such as cleaning up, fixing things, etc. Others would do specialized tasks, such as cleaning up, acting as hosts, ushers, etc. All of us, however, are called servants, because what we do is that we look after the needs of other people. We try and go against our nature - the fallen nature of man - which is to put ourselves first. It’s hard at times, definitely, because it gets difficult when what you want to do gets in conflict with what is required of you. What do you follow? It especially gets tough when people are asking something from you from all sides, so much so that you don’t know where to face anymore, who you should prioritize, which should be tackled first. At the very best, it’s frustrating. At the worst, it becomes maddening, because it seems as though they’re always after something from you, but aren’t really concerned with who you are, how you’re doing, heck, even if it’s within your capacity to meet their demands. Yet by the grace of God, you continue to do so, because you know that ultimately, what you’re doing is the right thing.

It won’t seem so at first. When people become mean to you even if you’re doing the best you can to help them (and they’re not making your job easier, to boot), you’ll be wondering why the heck you’re doing these things. “Why am I being such a martyr?” “Why should I look after these people, when I don’t owe them anything?” “I’m losing rest and energy for this?!” Been there, complained that. When you choose to commit yourself to the Lord, it’s really not about instant gratification as it is on being far-sighted. What are you doing these for? For the Lord. For the promise of salvation. For the wonders of heaven. What is the purpose of this? My life, plain and simple. My purpose here on earth is not to be a hedonist and live and enjoy everything that the world has to offer, but to become a true daughter of God. At the end of the day, nothing beats the feeling of completion and fulfillment, that what you’ve done is good, and that you pleased your King. No words can describe it. Even if you’re tired, sick, and sweaty, there’s this wonderful feeling of satisfaction, that you’ve done something that actually means something.

Right now, as I’m typing this. I’m sick. I’ve got a cough, I’m feeling the portents of a cold coming on, and a fever is right there on the horizon. I’m happy and contented though, because I went through all these for a reason and a purpose - and it’s not because of my personal desires.

Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity.