This is part 4 of a multi-issue devotion concerning the topic of the Servant of the Lord. It is intended to encourage all believers and I pray it will do so. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; II Timothy 2:24-25
In an effort to become and continue as the servant of the Lord, we must be “gentle unto all men”; one may consider what methodology would best achieve such a role in society. Inquisitions are performed with a perpetual evaluation seeking what must be done in order to consistently live as the servant of the Lord. It is obvious we are not to strive, meaning as such a servant we are to avoid strife. To a certain degree I would think this is given, a ‘no-brainer’ if you will. The Bible speaks against those who cause strife and in no uncertain terms reveals the damage they cause. Just a few examples from the book of Proverbs brings to light God’s disapproval with strife: “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”(Proverbs 22.10); “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”(Proverbs 17:19); “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” (Proverbs 15.18);“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”(Proverbs 16:28); “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.”(Proverbs 17:1). Even with these examples, it is one thing to understand the wickedness of strife and experience the grave contention it causes. It is yet another thing to apply the needed adjustments in our lives to avoid being the one who causes such reprehensible and divisive actions to the local body of Christ. When one evaluates the attributes of the servant of the Lord, all of them are positive, “gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” All of these are positive attributes which bring glory to God and fruit to His bounty. All, but the first, here we find something we are NOT to do which is to strive. It is the first qualification, the stepping stone to the attributes, which is an action of refusing to allow strife in the camp of our lives. One could almost say it is a prerequisite to the positive. In other words, if you strive, you cannot be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…
It is one thing to see the what, it is altogether something else to find the how. How can we not strive in becoming the servant of the Lord? I am reminded of an old story, one where a young man was eager to grow in his Christin life. This fellow took out a piece of paper to make a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down things he would give up as well as the places he would travel ministering to souls in need. He even listed, one by one, areas of the ministry he would enter. Such a list caused great excitement in his life. As he took it to the church, placing it on the altar, there was an expectation of joy, but instead he felt empty. He surmised the only way to resolve this issue was to add to the list, so he took the list home and began writing. He wrote down more things he would do and even more things he would not do. Back to church he went, now armed with an even longer list and placed it on the altar, yet to his surprise… nothing. Nothing at all. Surely there was a quick and easy fix to his dilemma he thought. The young man visited a wise, old pastor, sharing with him the situation and is desire to grow in his Christian life. After listening intently, the pastor said to him, “Young man, take a blank sheet of paper. Sign your name at the bottom. Put that on the altar.” The young man did so and peace entered his heart in a wave of beautiful joy.
The Lord is not so much interested in our list of what we will or will not do, as much as He is interested in us simply surrendering to His will of whatever and wherever He chooses to write upon the blank sheet of of our life. This, my friend, is what it means to “not strive” in becoming the servant of the Lord found in the precious pure word of God. Sure we can make as many lists as we want and we can work as hard as we can, but at the end of the day, the Lord wants us as His. He is not interested in a job description concocted within our own minds, but a life given over to Him so He can mold and make us meet for the master’s use as the servant of the Lord.
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