Who's the Servant?

I think we all agree we are called to be servants of God, and we would never say God is meant to serve us. Yet, it seems our behavior and attitudes often do not bear out this truth. Over the years, I have (during my best moments) found myself asking for less, praising more, and seeking God himself to a greater degree, realizing there is a higher purpose in prayer than seeing what we can get from above. Arriving at the place of not "asking amiss" can be a long process and may require redefining what faith means to us.

Prayer is communion with God and not our opportunity to see our heavenly Father as a magic genie, waiting to grant us unlimited wishes. Many fellowships and individuals have, thankfully, moved beyond this thinking or were never there, but the church where I grew up went through quite a long "phase" which centered around what is widely known as the "prosperity principle."

It's a big leap from realizing God loves us and has a good plan for our lives to saying we should all be driving brand-new cars and living in million dollar mansions, and if we're not, there's something wrong with us, but, at its basic level, that's what this kind of teaching conveys. (I call it being a member of the "Bless Me Club.") Even if we are beyond that level of thinking, the potential is always with us to believe it to a lesser degree.

I recently read something by Oswald Chambers, in "My Utmost for His Highest," that gave me a spiritual jolt. He quotes John 4:7, "Jesus said to her, [the Samaritan woman at the well], 'Give Me a drink.'" Chambers goes on to say, "How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him? We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us."

Are we asking for blessings for our own exclusive desires, or so we can use them to further God's kingdom? Since we are instructed to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done" and "give us this day our daily bread," it seems whatever we are given is meant to be shared with others for kingdom purposes. And beyond all else which we seek, we should at all times pray to become completely immersed in God and God alone.

He is not our servant, but he is all we need. That's a wonderful truth to absorb into our spirits, one which actually brings with it great contentment and joy. Because when that realization finally becomes clear, we know that we don't have to settle for "stuff" when we can have God himself!