Servants Only

José Brissos-Lino

In fact, there is no There is no other way to provide service to God than by serving people. The evangelist Mark reports that James and John wanted to have a prominent place in glory. But in the kingdom of God whoever wants to be the greatest must become the least important: “And whoever among you wants to be first, he will be the least. servant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45).

É It's time to understand that a religious minister is just a servant or servant. The Latin origin of the term minister points to the one who serves, provides, gives, cares or treats. Even when it applies to exercising government functions or directing something, it is always from the perspective of someone who provides a service to someone.

Deaconry is a Greek word used about 100 times in the New Testament. According to Luke's account in the Acts of the Apostles, it began to be used to describe table service, in support of elderly Christian widows in Jerusalem, but it is understood as as the entire dimension of Christian service.

The difficulty in serving others

There is There are thousands of people who work in the services sector but don't like what they do. They work out of obligation, for pay, and do not show an attitude of service to users or clients. On the contrary, it seems like they are doing you a favor by serving them. Many want to be served but do not want to serve others. The people say: “Do not ask from those who ask, nor serve those who served…”

The Hebrew model of the voluntary slave

The Old Testament presents us with the model of the voluntary slave, which seems, to the contrary, departure, a contradiction in terms. The truth is that when a slave was treated well by his master, at the moment he had the right to be freed from his condition, he could invoke a Hebrew law that allowed him, from then on, to be legally considered a voluntary slave . It was a legal provision with a character of justice and social cohesion, which was considered every seven years, due to the fact that people often fell into the situation of slaves due to lack of conditions to pay debts assumed.

To do so, he would have to go before a judge, with witnesses and declare it freely. The sign of this new condition would be made through a hole in his earlobe, which the court ordered to be executed with an awl. Deep down he continued to be a slave but of his own free will.

“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he will serve six years; but the seventh will come out; free, for free. If you entered only with his body, s & oacute; with his body leaving & aacute ;; if he was a married man, his wife would leave & aacute; with him. If his lord has given him a wife and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will be his lord's, and he will leave. alone.

But if that servant expressly says, I love my master, and my wife, and my children; I don't want to go free. Then your lord will take you away. to the judges, and will do so. get to the destination door, or on the doorpost, and his master will pierce him. the ear with an awl; and he will serve you; forever” (Exodus 21:1-6).

 The model of Jesus

 Although the Hebrew model is a type of Christian service, the New Testament presents the great model of service to others: Jesus. It was the greatest example of service we have ever seen. existed. He humbled himself and gave himself up to death. to death on the cross for the love of humanity. He himself said: “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

In fact, and according to the testimony to the apostle Paul in a letter sent to the Christian community; From Philippi, Jesus Christ subjected himself to three great humiliations (2:5-11). First of all, he emptied himself of heavenly glory by assuming human form. Then, as a man, he humbled himself to the point of becoming a man. to death, that is, accepting to die while being innocent.

And, as if that weren't enough, he allowed himself to be humiliated by accepting a death unworthy of any creature, being crucified like a lowly evildoer.

Jesus' sacrificial delivery was not out of obligation, but out of love. Someone said it wasn't the nails that stuck him to the wall. cross, but the great love with which he loved humanity.

Christian service

Therefore, Christian service means, first of all, imitation of Christ. The apostle St. Paul said “be imitators of me as I am of Christ”.

 It also demands obedience: “Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2); but adds: “Because each one will take your own load” (v5). It will be a contradiction? No! If everyone carries their own load and helps carry that of others, yours will also become lighter...

Jesus taught love for brothers and neighbors: “A new commandment I give to you: That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). The service is It is a practical way to demonstrate our love for others and to be recognized as disciples of Jesus.

 Serving God with love produces joy and satisfaction. In Acts 20:35 Paul quotes the words of Jesus: “A most blessed thing is give than receive.”

José Brissos-Lino
Director of the Master's in Science of Religions at Universidade Lusófona