An Anatomy of a Servant

Psalm 78:70-72  He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
71  from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
72  And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

What does it mean to be a “servant of God”?  Today many mistakenly make the term “servant of God” a title of position or of recognition.  We introduce someone as a “Servant” (the capital “S” intended) of God because of his accomplishments and success in ministry, failing to see that the real servant (small “s” also intended) does not look for accomplishment and success…all he wants is to obey and please his master.

In Psalm 78:70-72 I see an anatomy of a servant, through the call of David.  And I pray that as we study this anatomy we may pray that this also may be found in each one of us who claim to have a ministry or calling from the Lord.

He chose David His servant.  It is God who chooses His servant to be a pastor, evangelist, worship leader, teacher.  Attending Bible School does not make us a pastor.  Attending a Missions Training Institute does not make us a missionary.  Having an Education degree in college does not make us a bible school teacher.  It is the call of God in the heart of a Christian, an unmistakable call, to serve the Lord specifically in a certain area of His church, for the advancement of His kingdom.

Why is it important that our serving the Lord be God’s choice and not ours?  When we call ourselves to ministry we set our own standards, our own boundaries.  When God calls us it is His standard, His boundaries, that we submit to.

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens.  We cannot begin to serve God fully unless we realize our nothingness before Him.  The shepherd was considered a very lowly work during early Israel, usually reserved for the youngest.  While the older brothers were soldiers, David was left to tend the sheep.  And yet God chose Him.

We are not deserving of the call of God.  God, in His grace, considers us worthy to be His instrument.  We are nothing.

1 Corinthians 3:5  What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

Notice that Paul did not say “who is Apollos…who is Paul?”.  He said “what is…”.  They were ONLY SERVANTS.

And David kept this humility in his heart always.  When God revealed His plan for him, look at David’s response:

2 Sam 7:18-19  Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19  And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?

Do we keep this sense of nothingness the whole time we are serving the Lord?

From tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.  God’s call has no comparison to any other offer this world has for us.  From tending lowly sheep David was called to tend the people of God, Israel.

A servant of God looks at the call of the Lord as something so glorious, so magnificent, that nothing in this world can compare with it.  You may have work, or managing your business, but your heart and mind are so engrossed in what the Lord has called you to do, to be.  If you’re a full time pastor or minister there is nothing else that compares to the ministry that God has called you to do for Him.  No other joy, no other source of peace or satisfaction than fulfilling what God has called us to do.  Nothing the world offers – money, fame, position, or any kind of work, career and occupation, can steal us away from what the Lord has called us to do.

When Jesus called His first apostles, look what they did:

Mark 1:16-18  As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18  At once they left their nets and followed him.

Peter and Andrew were willing to leave their source of income, their life, for the Lord.

Mark 1:19-20  When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
20  Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus’ call was so great James and John even left their father with the hired men!  Is this how great God’s call is to us?  Nothing should compare with it.

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart.  A servant of God knows that his life, his walk, his testimony is of utmost importance to his calling.  God is glorified not just in the results of our ministry but also in the testimony that our life brings to it.  Here is where, sadly, many have failed.

1 Timothy 4:16  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Life must come before doctrine.  Our doctrine is useless unless it is first seen in our lives.  God’s servants and leaders in the church were always chosen because of their character, not their capabilities.  Many today put doctrine first without watching their lives.  As Samuel told King Saul “obedience is better than sacrifice”.

with skillful hands he led them.  The skill of a Christian worker does not come primarily from school or training, but from the gift of the Spirit given him and his practicing it.  It’s while we do what God has called us to do, and rely solely on His power and grace, that our skill is honed, polished.

But it doesn’t mean we cannot learn from others.  Here is where our bible school, our seminary training, and our personal study comes in.  We are serving the King of kings.  He deserves the best from us.  We are to train ourselves, and allow others to train us, so that we may serve the Lord with skillful hands.  Even after formal study a servant of God must continue to be a learner, learning from those who have gone ahead of us, and from those whose lives exhibit the working of God’s grace.

Of course, above all these things, is the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

May we all be servants of the Lord, desiring to obey and please our Heavenly Master.