Slave, Servant, Child, Friend

5.02.13

Sometimes I don’t understand myself. I cannot stand to be told what to do. It seriously causes the hair on the back of my neck to raise up, and I’ve been this way since I was a little child. Yet, if asked to do the exact same thing I will do it and more without once get upset about it. There are exceptions and I hate to admit that all of them seem to center around things I am asked to do for my husband or at home. I’m not saying all this to ‘air my dirty laundry’, but more as a ‘now that it’s out there I have no excuse not to correct it’ sort of thing.

I am not a “housewife” — I am not married to it; I am not a house slave — it does not own me. But in order for this place to properly handle our needs, I must attend to its needs (maintenance, cleaning, etc.). So we ‘serve’ this little house and in doing so, it provides our creature comforts.

I am Steve’s wife. He may not have bought me with a dowry like in the old days, but do not think for a second that I didn’t come with a high price! This man has paid for all sorts of things from my past that he never purchased. And that sidewalk walks both ways. Still, we are not slaves to each other, compelled by threat or harm to meet each others’ needs, wants, and desires. But we are servants to each other, and when we take care of each others’ needs, wants, and desires willingly we find that our lives are more fulfilled and happy. But as I sit here thinking about all this I realize that I am more quick to respond to a child’s want, a friend’s need, or work’s demands then I am to a simple request from the one closest to me in all the world. Today, my prayer is that God will show me where I serve and honor others over my husband and our marriage and how to resolve it in order to be a better Helpmate.

We are all Jonahs sometimes. We run from what God asks us to do. We can do that, for even though we WERE bought at an exorbitant price He doesn’t want slaves who must be forced to do what He’s asked. He wants children who choose to serve Him and others because of love — the love we are suppose to have towards Him and others because He first loved us. Jesus didn’t come to be served but TO serve — His Father and mankind. He even became a slave for the cause of Reconciliation With God to the point of death. But LIFE cannot be held captive and made a slave to death! Jesus is the Author and Essence of Life, so whom the Son sets free is free indeed! If anyone has a right to demand anything from anyone it would be Jesus. But guess what? He didn’t demand a thing! He simply said that if we call ourselves His disciples we will do ‘these things’. By the way, am I the only one who finds it strange that we will buy all sorts of ‘self-help’ books or take the advise of celebrity doctors, etc, but we refuse to even consider the possibility that the One Who breathed Life into us may actually have all the answers we need in HIS Book?

Well back to the point, in John 15:15 Jesus said that He doesn’t call us servants anymore, but FRIENDS. Then the One Who SHOULD have been served, wrapped a towel around His waist, sat down on a dusty floor with a bowl of water and began washing the filth from the feet of those with Him — EVEN Judas’ feet! How is it that we believe we should do any less? Oh God my Father! Teach me how to be a child who is willing to serve, who is willing to be a slave for the cause of Christ, which is Your Good News for all who will accept it.

TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE is not just the policeman’s mantra. It should be the motto for everyone, from the Office of the President of the United States on down to the child who helps her classmate on the monkey bars at recess. Oh how upside down is the world we live in! Father, I ask that You give us a servant’s heart and a desire to protect each other from harm. Let it begin in me, oh God, and shine like a beacon that others can follow. Instruct me in all these areas and teach how to be all that You’ve called me to be, for I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

After reading this my sister wrote this back to me:

•  “I think we can all relate as women, wives, daughters, and the redeemed. Most of us women grew up in worldly homes, not being taught our worth as women, our duty as wives, or our calling as the redeemed. The world was piped into our homes via television with an opposing view on our role as women. We heard things like, “we are woman, hear us roar”, “you can do anything you set your mind to”, “if it feels good do it”, “if you don’t take care of yourself, no one will”, and on and on it went. But God made woman in a unique way for a unique purpose. His word tells us all about us. But because we weren’t taught the beautiful plan and purpose for women, we believe the biblical view of us is unfufilling, demeaning, and less than men. The truth is, God’s plan puts Jesus as the head, the man as the leader and the woman as the helper. So if this is God’s plan (and it is), who are we to believe that one is greater than the other. Man has his role and woman has her role. One role is not greater than the other, it requires both roles to accomplish God’s plan. Of course we are speaking of the marriage roles. We thrive, we connect, we accomplish great things when we accept our roles and do our roles willingly with happy contented hearts. To try and confuse those roles or overthrow those roles causes confusion and discontentment. Women are strong, talented, intelligent, beautiful people of God when we recognize and understand and embrace our role. The world will always try to make us believe differently than God’s Word, but women of faith should always look to God’s Word for the truth about all things including ourselves.”