{"id":48607,"date":"2021-09-13T19:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T23:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=48607"},"modified":"2021-09-14T11:15:43","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T15:15:43","slug":"the-heart-of-a-servant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-heart-of-a-servant\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Develop the Heart of a Servant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What is the heart of a servant like? Do you have one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/serving-the-church\/\">serve the church<\/a>, you want to make sure that you&#8217;re doing it for the right reasons\u2014in a way that honors God and serves as an example to others. You need to have the heart of a servant. Pastor Rick Warren outlines five characteristics and five attitudes of a servant&#8217;s heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to learn how you can develop the heart of a servant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developing the Heart of a Servant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Knowing your unique ministry is the <em>first <\/em>vital part of serving others\u2014the second vital part is developing your <em>servant\u2019s heart.<\/em> <\/strong>You must have the heart of a servant for two reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It prevents you from feeling tempted to use your abilities and gifts for your personal benefit rather than for service.&nbsp;<\/li><li>It will urge you to answer God\u2019s call to service <em>even when the call is for something you\u2019re not particularly gifted at. <\/em>While your main focus is your unique ministry, your second focus is <em>any<\/em> call to service. Someone who doesn&#8217;t have the heart of a servant only responds to calls for their main ministry, and selfishly ignores God\u2019s calls for other types of service.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A servant\u2019s heart is made up of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/your-genius\/\">who you are<\/a> and how you feel\u2014a combination of <\/strong><strong><em>character <\/em><\/strong><strong>and <\/strong><strong><em>attitude<\/em><\/strong><strong> that lend themselves to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/living-a-life-of-service\/\">serving others<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Heart of a Servant Has Five Characteristics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone can perform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/acts-of-service-love-language\/\">acts of service<\/a> in their church, but not everyone is doing it for the right reason\u2014rather than these acts coming from their heart, they come from a need to be recognized or the desire to be liked. A <em>true servant<\/em> has a strong, developed character of servitude. There are five characteristics that indicate that service is part of <em>who you are<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristic #1: Availability&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your schedule unburdened enough to be able to answer the call to service when it comes, or be willing to put aside less important matters to answer the call.<strong> As a servant, you must be willing to let God interfere with your schedule as he needs to\u2014those who only serve when they feel like it or when it\u2019s convenient aren\u2019t true servants.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>This may sound stressful, but it\u2019s <em>freeing<\/em>. Changes to your schedule and interruptions in your day become less irritating when you see them as opportunities to do God\u2019s work.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristic #2: Perceptiveness&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>True servants always look for ways that they might be able to serve others and take opportunities as soon as they spot them. <strong>You need <\/strong><strong><em>perception <\/em><\/strong><strong>and <\/strong><strong><em>flexibility<\/em><\/strong><strong> to fulfill this characteristic:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Perception<\/em> helps you sense when someone needs your help, even when it\u2019s not immediately clear.&nbsp;<\/li><li><em>Flexibility<\/em> is necessary because moments to reach out to those who need help usually pass very quickly, so you need to be flexible enough to seize the moment without thinking about your schedule.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To work on your servant\u2019s perception and flexibility, make a point of looking for small, unnoticeable tasks that need to be done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, you might rake your elderly neighbor\u2019s leaves while they\u2019re out, or stay after a committee meeting to clean up the room.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This will train your eye for subtle places to help, and teach you to adjust your schedule around what needs to be done\u2014not vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristic #3: Dedication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>True servants always do the best they can, no matter the circumstances<\/strong>. They don\u2019t wait for better timing or better tools, and they don\u2019t make excuses\u2014they use whatever they have and jump into their work. This is because they understand that <em>thoughts<\/em> don\u2019t count as service; imperfect service is much better than thoughts of service that never gets carried out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be hesitating to serve or waiting for a \u201cbetter time\u201d because you think you have nothing worthy to offer. There are two arguments that can help you get over this mindset:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>God doesn\u2019t care about perfection. He can use any sort of service you put out into the world, but he can\u2019t use your thoughts of service.<\/li><li>Everyone has a learning curve, and their first attempts at service aren\u2019t always their best. The only way you can improve is by practicing.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beyond doing their best, true servants give the same amount of dedication to every task. <\/strong>No service is beneath them, or too small\u2014everything is done with their whole heart. Many people are only willing to perform grand gestures of service. <em>Reveal that you have the heart of a servant by being the person who is willing to take care of the small things.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Always keep in mind that no task was \u201cbeneath\u201d Jesus. He washed feet, helped lepers, and made food for his disciples\u2014all to the best of his ability.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristic #4: Reliability&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Servants are dependable\u2014they do what they say they will, whether it\u2019s a task they need to get done or a promise they need to keep. In a world where it seems to be increasingly difficult to get people to stick to their commitments, <strong>servants are steadfastly trustworthy and reliable<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristic #5: Humility&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Servants don\u2019t need to be noticed or praised for their service<\/strong>\u2014they do humble service and don\u2019t go out of their way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/grab-attention\/\">get attention<\/a> for it. If they <em>do<\/em> get praise, they acknowledge it but don\u2019t let it change the way they serve or get in the way of it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>This contrasts with how many people tend to serve, with the intent of being <em>seen<\/em> serving. For these people, service is not a way to do God\u2019s work but a way to get attention and praise and seem to others like a faithful servant.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you catch yourself feeling upset that your ministry seems unimportant or is going unnoticed, remember who it\u2019s for. God sees everything\u2014he notices your ministry and he appreciates it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Heart of a Servant Has Five Attitudes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with a developed character, true servants have certain <em>attitudes<\/em> that reveal their true commitment to serving to help others rather than tally up accomplishments. True servants hold five common attitudes toward service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude #1: Others\u2019 Needs First&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Think about others\u2019 needs before thinking about your own. <\/strong>When your own needs aren\u2019t the center of your focus, you more easily avoid the mistake of consciously or unconsciously participating in service for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-motives\/\">selfish reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine that you were interested in becoming the head of your church\u2019s outreach committee. Your church puts out a call for volunteers to help with an upcoming event.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If you were serving with an attitude of \u201c<em>my<\/em> needs first,\u201d you might volunteer for a position that\u2019s in the spotlight and lets you inform everyone of your candidacy for the outreach committee.&nbsp;<\/li><li>If you were serving with the heart of a servant and the attitude of \u201c<em>others\u2019<\/em> needs first,\u201d you\u2019d more likely look for where help is needed most, even if the position isn\u2019t prominent.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/v2\/app\/book\/the-road-to-character\/part-1\">Read our summary of <em>The Road to Character<\/em><\/a> for more insight into the \u201cme first\u201d attitude and tips on becoming more selfless.)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It takes time to develop an unselfish attitude toward service. There are two aspects to this development:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1) Practice: <\/strong>You\u2019ll continually be presented with situations that force you to choose between meeting your needs and meeting the needs of someone else. <strong>Every time, consciously choose the latter. <\/strong>This practice will <em>always<\/em> be difficult\u2014humans are naturally selfish, after all\u2014but over time it\u2019ll become more ingrained in your natural mindset.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2) Regular check-ins:<\/strong> Reflect on how you feel when others treat you like a servant, such as when they take you for granted or are demanding of you. If you don\u2019t notice, you\u2019re serving from a place where their needs come first. If you feel upset or resentful, you\u2019re letting <em>your <\/em>needs\u2014for appreciation or an open schedule, for example\u2014come first. When you feel negative about your role as a servant, identify which of your needs is clamoring for your attention, and consciously put it aside and refocus on your service.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, you might feel upset after spending an afternoon creating a food delivery calendar for a sick church member if no one acknowledges all your hard work. This signals that your need for validation is driving your service. Remind yourself who the work is <em>really<\/em> for, and forget about getting a pat on the back.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude #2: Stewardship, Not Ownership<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>True servants remember their commitment to stewardship.<strong> <\/strong>All of their gifts\u2014tangible and intangible\u2014have been entrusted to them by God to take care of and use in a <em>trustworthy <\/em>manner. <strong>When you choose to use the abilities, personality, or experiences God gave you for your personal pleasure instead of service to others, you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/use-your-talents\/\">using your gifts<\/a> in an untrustworthy way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people don\u2019t realize that <em>money<\/em> is a gift entrusted to them like everything else in their lives, to be used carefully and unselfishly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, God might give you the gift of business savvy, the ability to make good deals or sales, or a knack for coming up with brilliant ideas that naturally bring in wealth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Bible, Jesus spends more time talking about the role of money in our lives than he spends talking about heaven or hell\u2014it\u2019s <em>that<\/em> important for you to think about it. <strong>God gives you money to test your faithfulness and see if you\u2019ll choose to serve him or serve your wealth. <\/strong>To be clear, it\u2019s not sinful to <em>have <\/em>money or wealth. However, it <em>is<\/em> sinful to prioritize your wealth over your service, or refuse to use your wealth for God\u2019s glory. Instead of <em>wealth-building<\/em>\u2014that is, amassing as much wealth as possible\u2014focus on <em>kingdom-building<\/em>. Kingdom builders focus on making money not for personal pleasure, but for the purpose of giving it away or spending it on the church and the church\u2019s efforts to spread the message of God\u2019s glory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, a kingdom builder might set up a scholarship program within her church to send young adults on mission trips all over the world.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude #3: Competition Is Useless&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A true servant only focuses on her own work, not the work of others\u2014competing not only subtracts from time spent on her ministry, but it\u2019s also useless in several ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>All members of God\u2019s family have the same goal in mind: bringing glory to God. If you\u2019re all headed in the same direction, it doesn\u2019t matter how people differ in getting there.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Everyone has different skills and assignments given to them by God\u2014it\u2019s not possible to directly compare any two people.&nbsp;<\/li><li>There is no such thing as \u201cinsignificant\u201d ministry\u2014thinking that <em>your <\/em>role is insignificant makes you feel insecure, and thinking your role is more significant than others\u2019 makes you arrogant. Remember that everyone has an important role to fill within a diverse church.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>True servants not only avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/criticism-of-others\/\">criticizing others<\/a>, but they also avoid listening to criticism. <\/strong>When people don\u2019t understand your unique ministry, they might try to get you to change how you serve so that you better fit their idea of what service <em>should<\/em> look like.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ignore these people. While their opinions may feel important because they\u2019re so immediate, you <em>know<\/em> that the only opinion that matters is God\u2019s and that he wouldn\u2019t want you to change his plan to satisfy other people.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude #4: Christ Is a Secure Identity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>True servants who feel secure about their identity in Christ are able to fully live the characteristic of <em>dedication<\/em>. Their secure identity means that they never feel the need to prove the legitimacy or importance of their work, so they\u2019re not insecure about doing menial tasks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>People who <em>don\u2019t<\/em> serve from a place of secure identity might shy away from work that doesn\u2019t seem important or is \u201cbeneath\u201d them.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>True, secure servants are able to focus completely on their work, instead of being distracted by how they look to others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude #5: Ministry Is an Opportunity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>True servants are happy to serve because it allows them to express gratitude for all they\u2019ve received. They never think of their service as an <em>obligation<\/em>\u2014rather, it\u2019s a joyful <em>opportunity<\/em> to celebrate everything they have and demonstrate God\u2019s goodness to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Make Your Weaknesses Useful to Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Remember that <\/strong><strong><em>everything<\/em><\/strong><strong> God gave you is to fulfill the purposes he planned for you\u2014even your weaknesses. <\/strong>The Bible is full of examples of ordinary, flawed people being used by God to accomplish amazing things.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, Mary was an ordinary woman before she was called to be Jesus\u2019s mother, and Joseph worked on a farm with his brothers before he was given the gift of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-interpret-dreams\/\">interpreting dreams<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be hard to stop seeing your weaknesses as anything besides drawbacks or obstacles, but if you have the heart of a servant, you will do the work to discover how your weaknesses can serve others. There are four steps you can take to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/reframe-your-thoughts\/\">reframe your thinking<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Admit Your Weakness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many people, you probably hide your weaknesses or deny that they exist. These can be physical weaknesses or disabilities, or emotional weaknesses like mental illness or trauma.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order for your weaknesses to evolve and for God to use them as intended, you have to bring them into the open. <strong>Identifying and naming your weaknesses is the first step to finding their power. <\/strong>Sit down and make an honest list of your weaknesses. Keep two ideas in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>There\u2019s no weakness that \u201cdoesn\u2019t count\u201d or is \u201ctoo small\u201d for the list\u2014there\u2019s a reason behind all of it.&nbsp;<\/li><li>There\u2019s no such thing as <em>perfection<\/em> in humans. If you\u2019re having a hard time coming up with a list of weaknesses, dig a little deeper.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Accept Your Weakness&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s normal to feel discontent or resentment toward your weaknesses. However, their power won\u2019t be revealed to you unless you <em>accept<\/em> them\u2014<strong>acceptance opens your mind to trusting God\u2019s decisions and understanding that he created your weaknesses with your best interests in mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you accept your weaknesses, you\u2019ll find that they serve four important roles in your life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>They keep you dependent on God\u2014when you feel weak, you can turn to him for strength and help. If you <em>never<\/em> felt weakness, it would be easy to think you didn\u2019t need God at all.&nbsp;<\/li><li>They keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/your-ego\/\">your ego<\/a> in check. If God <em>only<\/em> granted you strength, you might falsely believe that you\u2019re perfect or all-powerful. In granting you weakness, God reminds you that you\u2019re human and leaves the opportunity to show <em>his<\/em> power when yours is lacking.&nbsp;<\/li><li>They keep you reliant on fellowship. Strength tends to make people isolate themselves, thinking that they can do everything alone. On the contrary, weakness reveals <em>how much<\/em> people need one another.&nbsp;<\/li><li>They make you more patient and sympathetic toward the weaknesses of others. You can\u2019t truly serve others if you think you\u2019re better than they are\u2014true servants realize they\u2019re just as human as everyone else.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Share Your Weakness&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a courageous step\u2014it requires you to show vulnerability and risk the possibility of shame or rejection. <strong>Sharing your weakness is vital to your ministry.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping your guard up and projecting a perfect image of yourself keeps you distant from others in several ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You keep people at arm\u2019s length so they can\u2019t get close enough to see through your perfect fa\u00e7ade. This prevents meaningful connections from happening.<\/li><li>People who think you\u2019re perfect assume that they can\u2019t talk to you about their problems because you won\u2019t understand them or won\u2019t know how to help them.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On the other hand, being open about your own flaws or failures makes others feel safe to share <\/strong><strong><em>their<\/em><\/strong><strong> flaws and failures without fear of judgment. <\/strong>They know you\u2019ll understand them, and the lessons you\u2019ve learned from your experiences can help them. Furthermore, seeing you as a flawed person being used by God to serve others signals that they, too, have the potential to serve.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Praise Your Weakness&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Instead of being ashamed of your weakness, celebrate that you can serve <\/strong><strong><em>despite<\/em><\/strong><strong> your weakness. <\/strong>This is proof of God\u2019s goodness\u2014he knows all of your flaws, yet loves you and includes you in his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Satan might plant thoughts in your mind, mocking your weaknesses. Don\u2019t deny or argue with what he says. Rather, agree with him and point out why it\u2019s <em>useful <\/em>to have your particular flaws.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, the idea that your chronic illness is making you weak or diminishing your life pops into your mind. You agree: \u201cThat\u2019s right, my disease is life-altering. But it\u2019s granted me a unique perspective that I use to support others struggling to come to terms with their chronic illnesses.\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have the heart of a servant, you&#8217;re able to make a difference that makes God smile.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is the heart of a servant like? Do you have one? When you serve the church, you want to make sure that you&#8217;re doing it for the right reasons\u2014in a way that honors God and serves as an example to others. You need to have the heart of a servant. Pastor Rick Warren outlines five characteristics and five attitudes of a servant&#8217;s heart. Keep reading to learn how you can develop the heart of a servant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":48617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,43,6],"tags":[488],"class_list":["post-48607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motivation","category-self-improvement","category-spiritual","tag-the-purpose-driven-life","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Develop the Heart of a Servant - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you have the heart of a servant? 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