Servanthood—What does the Bible say? What does the Bible say about being a servant?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible teaches that servanthood is central to the life of God’s people. In the Old Testament, servants were those who lived in obedience to God’s will, whether through Israel’s calling to serve Him as His chosen people or through the examples of faithful individuals like Moses and David. To be called a servant of the LORD was a title of honor, showing loyalty to Him above all else (Joshua 24:15; 2 Samuel 7:5).

The New Testament calls Jesus the supreme Servant. He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, and laid down His life for others (Philippians 2:5–8). He also taught that true greatness in His kingdom comes through servanthood (Mark 10:43–45). Believers are therefore called to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), using their gifts to build up the body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10).

Servanthood in Scripture is not about forced slavery but about voluntary humility and obedience to God. It is the posture of those who know God’s grace and who live to reflect His heart by meeting the needs of others.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament portrays servanthood as one’s relation to God Himself. To be a servant of the LORD meant to be chosen for His purposes and bound to obey Him. Moses, for instance, is often described as God’s servant, carrying out the LORD’s commands for Israel (Numbers 12:7). David, for his part, bore the title “my servant” even as king, showing that leadership in Israel was grounded in service to God (2 Samuel 7:5).
• To be God’s servant was particularly tied to Israel’s role as His chosen people. The LORD called them out of Egypt to serve Him alone, giving them His law and instructions so they would live in obedience and show His character to the nations (Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 10:12–13). This service was designed so that they could display their loyalty to God and their dependence on Him as the true King.
• The prophets gave new depth to the idea of servanthood by pointing to the coming Servant of the LORD. Isaiah’s servant songs (Isaiah 42; 49; 52–53) portray one who would not only obey but would suffer and bear the sins of many. This built upon Israel’s history of leaders like Moses and David, who served God by shepherding His people; but it went further by presenting servanthood as ultimate sacrifice and substitution. In this way, the Old Testament prepared for the New Testament’s presentation of Christ as the Suffering Servant who gives His life for the world.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament begins by affirming Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Servant. Jesus taught directly on this. He said, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42b–45). Notice how He contrasts the world's view of leadership with His own. Unlike people of the world who enjoy having servants, Jesus, as the Son of God, bent down to be the servant of humanity.
• Despite Jesus being God and having the right to be served, He willingly humbled Himself, serving by dying for humanity. Paul highlights this deep submission, saying that Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8). Servanthood, then, is the heart of what it means to be a Christian and be like Jesus.
• Indeed, Jesus taught His disciples that servanthood defines greatness in His kingdom. When the disciples were arguing about which one of them was greatest, Jesus replied, “Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” (Luke 22:26). Before His death, He modeled serving by washing the disciples’ feet. He added, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15). He was saying that Christian leaders are to be the most humble and most servant-hearted of all believers.
• The New Testament closes with the promise that those who serve Christ now will reign with Him in glory (Revelation 22:5). Because Jesus, the Son of God, served others and because everything He did showed us who God is (John 14:9), it should be no surprise that servanthood will be part of the eternal identity of God’s people (Revelation 22:3).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Servanthood is definitely not natural to us! Being sinners means that we are, by nature, self-centered. That is, we prefer independence and recognition. However, the Bible calls us to humble ourselves before God and others. To be Christ’s servant means surrendering our rights, our pride, and our preferences in order to reflect His love.

Having a servant mindset should challenge how we view daily life. Whether we are at home, at work, or in the church, God calls us to put others first. Remember that Jesus died for His enemies. That is, He didn’t just serve those who liked Him. Instead, He served despite not being appreciated. That is how we are also to serve! Rather than seeking to be noticed or honored for what we do, we should always do everything for the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31). We will be rewarded for our faithfulness.

Take hope in the eternal effect of your servanthood. While the world may despise humility, any “joy” they get from being on the top of the world will be short-lived. Death is, as they say, the great equalizer. No one remains a king after they die! However, the servant of Christ will continue for eternity. Therefore, take delight in serving because one day you will hear these words from Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

UNDERSTAND

• Servanthood is counter-cultural yet it is how God calls us to live: humbly loving others.
• Jesus modeled ultimate servanthood and true greatness.
• Serving others reflects Christ and honors God.

REFLECT

• How do you respond to God’s call to live humbly and lovingly serve others?
• How do your desires conflict with God’s call to servanthood?
• How can you follow Jesus’ example of serving even those who may not appreciate or reciprocate it?

ENGAGE

• How does Jesus’ example of servanthood challenge our cultural understanding of leadership and success?
• How can we as believers better reflect a servant-hearted mindset, and why is this important?
• What biblical models of servanthood better help us understand what it means to lovingly serve others?