Servants
“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” Philippians 1.1
Nearly everyone today has a title or two that can be attached to their names. Titles are identifiers of various positions, education, authority, and preference – sometimes it refers to various accomplishments. When I began officiating softball games, I would often hear someone yell out, “Hey, blue.” I came to realize that I was being identified by the blue shirt I wore while on the field. When our first child came along, I enjoyed being called “Pop.” And, when in the realms of academia, I may be referred to as “Doctor.” Around my church, I am commonly called “Pastor.”
The titles should in no way change who a person is, but they do serve to express something about that person. In the South, we still honor older people by calling them either “sir” or “ma’am.” By reason of age, we should honor those who have exceeded us in age.
I haven’t paid much attention to professional athletes for several years, but I have noticed an ever expanding debate among some who think they are the greatest of all times. Some would love to have the title G.O.A.T. (“Greatest of All Time”) attached to their resume; while others, who would be in the running for that moniker, realize that there are other great players in the mix.
Paul is considered to be the greatest missionary of all times. Had things been different, Christianity as we know it would not have reached Europe. Many of the struggling churches would have failed and the preserved Greek texts of the New Testament would have found it difficult to be preserved as they were. Without his influence in the church at Antioch, we would know less about the modern missionary movement and our church polity would have been more similar to what had moved in a southern direction through Alexandria, Egypt.
So much more could be said of Paul’s influence especially considering the line of disciples he left in his wake – students who would carry on church leadership years after he was off the scene preserving the sanctity of the Christ-established assemblies and protecting God’s written Word.
Although he was a well-educated man, the Apostle Paul had no Ph.D., Th.D., or D.Min. behind his name. While he accepted the title Apostle, he understood that the term means “someone who is sent as a delegate” – someone sent to deliver a message. In his mind, it was a term which spoke of duty and obligation. In Philippians 1.1, he refers to himself and Timothy as “servants” (doulos – “slave”). Most of us today don’t care for the term “slave”; however, by placing our will in the hands of our Savior-God we willingly submit to His plan – we have no choice – we are bought and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Designating himself as a servant, he willingly suffered the trials and testings God had laid ahead of him. He willingly, and with joy, endured imprisonments, shipwrecks, and beatings because he was no longer his own – he belonged to Christ.
He penned his motto in Galatians 2.20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Although we recognize him as a truly great follower of Christ, Paul would never have claimed that title. He considered himself a debtor to the world (Romans 1.14) and a slave to Christ. (Philippians 1.1) I wonder where we would place ourselves into that picture. What title belongs on our lives?
The titles should in no way change who a person is, but they do serve to express something about that person. In the South, we still honor older people by calling them either “sir” or “ma’am.” By reason of age, we should honor those who have exceeded us in age.
I haven’t paid much attention to professional athletes for several years, but I have noticed an ever expanding debate among some who think they are the greatest of all times. Some would love to have the title G.O.A.T. (“Greatest of All Time”) attached to their resume; while others, who would be in the running for that moniker, realize that there are other great players in the mix.
Paul is considered to be the greatest missionary of all times. Had things been different, Christianity as we know it would not have reached Europe. Many of the struggling churches would have failed and the preserved Greek texts of the New Testament would have found it difficult to be preserved as they were. Without his influence in the church at Antioch, we would know less about the modern missionary movement and our church polity would have been more similar to what had moved in a southern direction through Alexandria, Egypt.
So much more could be said of Paul’s influence especially considering the line of disciples he left in his wake – students who would carry on church leadership years after he was off the scene preserving the sanctity of the Christ-established assemblies and protecting God’s written Word.
Although he was a well-educated man, the Apostle Paul had no Ph.D., Th.D., or D.Min. behind his name. While he accepted the title Apostle, he understood that the term means “someone who is sent as a delegate” – someone sent to deliver a message. In his mind, it was a term which spoke of duty and obligation. In Philippians 1.1, he refers to himself and Timothy as “servants” (doulos – “slave”). Most of us today don’t care for the term “slave”; however, by placing our will in the hands of our Savior-God we willingly submit to His plan – we have no choice – we are bought and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Designating himself as a servant, he willingly suffered the trials and testings God had laid ahead of him. He willingly, and with joy, endured imprisonments, shipwrecks, and beatings because he was no longer his own – he belonged to Christ.
He penned his motto in Galatians 2.20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Although we recognize him as a truly great follower of Christ, Paul would never have claimed that title. He considered himself a debtor to the world (Romans 1.14) and a slave to Christ. (Philippians 1.1) I wonder where we would place ourselves into that picture. What title belongs on our lives?
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