As a pastor, I face a constant battle of  the “success syndrome.”  How many did we have this morning?  Have we had any new people/guests?  All the questions that many associate with success.  I came to realize quite awhile back that in many ways success cannot be measured in numbers, at least in the church.  I realize that a business will keep spread sheets and charts to keep themselves up to date.  My thinking began to change but I can’t really pinpoint when.  What I like about that is there is a freedom that develops when my day/week is not tied to charts and graphs.

That is becoming more and more apparent to me as I get older.  I am currently reading Servolution by Dino Rizzo.  His story about Healing Place Church (HPC) and their “pre-occupation” (my word) with serving has set my insides on edge.  Not because I disagree but because I see life in his words and HPC’s actions.  I am now reading chaper 4 entitled “Servolution Is All About Jesus.”  It has really got me thinking about being a servant and what it means.  You know, a lot has been written in the negative about today’s generation and its leaders- too liberal, too “me-focused”, too social oriented, and others.  Some of the criticism is merited but that is not what I want to focus on with this post.  I want to focus on what I have noticed in many- a desire to serve.   Dino makes some interesting points in his fourth chapter.  Here are the highlights:

1.  When we focus on caring for people, God takes care of the church. It is easy to ask, “How in the world will you be able to (fill in the blank)?”  A church serving Jesus will have things taken care of.

2.  Servolution is about expanding the kingdom, not just the church. It is not about growing our own churches. It is about growing the kingdom.

3.  Every Christian needs to serve. Hmmm that sounds to me like a page right out of the Bible.  And if I remember correctly our Leader Himself said, “I did not come to be served but to serve…” Here is something Dino wrote that rocked me: “We are nothing.  He is everything.  He became nothing and served us as though we were something.  He laid down His everything for our nothing.  How much more should we, being nothing, serve those He considers to be something worth everything.” (Okay read that slower next time).

4.  Servolution reminds us that this is all about Him and not about us. Paul once wrote, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…which is your spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1]  Worship is not about us at all.  It is to be all about Him.  If we present ourselves to God for His use then it is part of our worship.

To be honest, I am still fleshing out this whole thing in my mind.  I am seeking direction and wisdom as I come to grips with this.  I hope you will consider (if you haven’t already done so) to join me in the quest to be a servant.  The following song is a “moldie oldie” but the words are still true.

Do you have any thoughts to share?  I would like to hear them.