GIFTS OF MINISTRY
Brian Favell
Part 2
- SERVING
If you've looked at Romans 12 you might think that this label 'serving'
is a bit of a distortion when the Authorised Version at least calls this
'ministry'. But what else is ministry but serving? Remember in Acts when the
apostles were getting overwhelmed by petty squabbles about rations for their
widows (Acts 6 :2)
they said "It isn't right that we should have to
give over preaching the Gospel for the sake of serving at tables." And they
appointed deacons to do this so that the apostles could get on with their proper
job.
Anyway, let's look at serving. You might think that this is an obvious
one - that we know all the answers about this. Sorry, we don't. We are not, for
example, talking about servers at the altar (at least, not directly). And we are
not talking about the everyday work of running a house or a church organisation.
This article is about something - and someone - special.
DO YOU KNOW someone who only ever asks you once - the first time you
visit - whether you like tea or coffee, or if you take milk and sugar? She (or
it could be he) only asks once because next time you come, even if it's a year
later, she puts a cup before you made the way you like it....... without asking.
She could be a Servant.
She remembers these things and does them because it is completely
automatic for her to express her caring for people in these physical ways. She
doesn't forget your likes and dislikes because to do so would not be a failure
of hospitality but a gross lack of love.
DO YOU KNOW a man who - for instance in church - spots something wrong: a
door needing repair or a light bulb blown? And while others are making a note to
raise it at the next PCC he has already gone to fetch tools and a ladder. He may
be a Servant.
When someone says,"Oh, let's just screw it back again" a
Servant says, "Oh, no: the screw won't hold in the wood any more. I'll take
it off and do a proper job."
When someone else says, "Oh dear, nobody's tidied up" the
Servant doesn't say anything. She's already gone to fetch the mop and bucket and
broom. And when others say, "No, really, we don't need to do all that"
the Servant says, "Might as well do it properly: it'll only take two
minutes."
ALERTNESS to see and meet practical needs: that's one of the marks of a
Servant. He or she enjoys work with the hands: scrubbing, cooking, painting,
cutting the
grass, mending the fuse. And he is instant. See the
trouble, put it right - at once. No messing about getting someone to tell
someone else what to do. If the task needs money your Servant is apt to spend it
first - his own money - and leave others to worry about whether they are going
to repay him afterwards. For him the REAL priority is to get the job done.
He is tough: he's got stamina. It takes all an ordinary mortal can do to
keep up with him, and at 11 o'clock at night he'll be the one to see just one
more thing that needs doing, while those around him are saying, "Oh NO!
Let's go home!"
A Servant's work is his gift to people, to church, to community, to God.
And like all who give from the heart he needs to have his gift appreciated. But
beware if you offer him insincere thanks or fulsome words not from the heart!
Beware also if he is loaded with long term projects or asked to work to a
timetable. His strength is in meeting immediate needs, doing the immediate task
- and doing it NOW. And if something MUST be done skimpily or in a
rough-and-ready way through time or money restrictions, don't ask a Servant: he
only knows how to do it well.
People who don't understand the motivations of a Servant will find things
to upset them. The instant reaction to need and the eagerness to give service
may be seen as pushiness, lack of tact, insensitivity. Energy, ability and skill
instantly applied may leave others feeling shamed and helpless. Indeed a Servant
may be tempted to think others ARE slow, helpless, somewhat lacking. He may be
in danger of not letting others serve him. His anxiety to work and give may
deprive his own family of time or necessities. And of course he cannot ALWAYS
short-circuit the official way of doing things and get away with it: he may be
hurt and hurt others. And finally, in his drive to react instantly to need, he
may forget that God sometimes uses an unfulfilled need to teach his children a
particular spiritual lesson.
Awkward people, Servants. Martha was a typical one. No matter how clearly
Jesus told her, "Don't WORRY, Martha! Something plain and simple is all I
need" Martha couldn't bear to give Jesus less than the best she could
provide. And he loved her, smiled at her and let her do it.
The salt of the earth, Servants, as long as it is love that drives them
and not pride. Praise the Lord for them!