Believe Manifesto

This week I have been thinking a lot about servanthood. This is one of my favorite topics, and it has been one of the most influential behavioral traits in my adult life. As a child and a young adult, I didn’t know much about servanthood besides what we did in Key Club. I would see a few people around me doing acts of kindness, and having a servant heart…but at the time, I didn’t know that’s what I was seeing. Then after college God sent me a few people who had the biggest servant hearts I have ever seen. Ever since he keeps putting them in my path, and let me tell you–these people are life changers! The best people to be around are servants. They will make you better in every way.

First, to you young people: If you have never served, done a project, or taken a week to do random acts of kindness–do it! I would go out on a limb and guess that hands down, practicing being a servant will prep you for “adult daily life” more than any other thing.

So what is the root of servanthood? I love this black and white verse:

“Serve whole-heartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” Ephesians 6:7-8

Derick and I were having a deep conversation a few night ago about followers of Christ who became slaves during World War II. He was telling me about a story he had recently read about some of the torture these slaves went through in the name of Christ and it brought me to tears. I just can’t quite figure out why servanthood makes me so emotional–but I downright cry at any mention of it.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

You all the BIGGEST thing I have to share is that having a servant heart will never be about YOU, but it can bring you bigger blessings than I can even begin to explain!

In the book The Seven Decisions by Andy Andrews, he tells a story of a man who on his last day on this earth CHOSE TO SERVE by tying life jackets to babies baskets, then giving his own life jacket to a woman who didn’t have one. He then drowned on the boat they were traveling on–because he COULD NOT SWIM. Oh my heavens! (Cue tears!) What a legacy this man CHOSE to leave to those around him and his family. This man chose to spend his last breaths serving others and I know for a fact, it inspired others to live their lives with a servant heart.

Every single day we have the same choice to make. We can chose to wallow in our own; misery, regret, pain, depression, filth etc. Or, we can chose to serve others EVEN IF ALL WE HAVE IS KINDNESS TO GIVE. God will pay us back in rewards bigger than we can imagine. Based on how servanthood has influenced my life though, it can really change yours too. If you have been feeling down on yourself, the easiest way to turn your life around is by serving others. It will make you feel like Alfred Vanderbilt himself.

Today I challenge you to chose to serve, and do so with a humble heart. Before you know it, yours will be transformed.