MKLJOY@aol.com

 "I'm tired of being treated so unkindly and thoughtlessly," I fumed. "I'm going to quit this position! These people don't really appreciate me!"

      A quiet voice spoke to my heart: "Who are you serving, Muriel?'

      "You, Lord!" I exclaimed silently. "You know that!"

      "Then stop getting hurt so easily. Just serve me humbly and joyfully." 

GOOD TIP FOR SLAVES AND SERVANTS

      In the Apostle Paul's day many who became Christians were slaves or servants. Unfortunately, a number of the "masters" were not only rude and unkind to them, but cruel as well. So it was natural for some to be filled with feelings of anger, hostility, and resentment by such treatment. However, if they held these feelings in their hearts and brooded over them, it would cause a breach between them and the Lord. When this happened, it would hinder their growth in the Lord and their testimony for Him. 

      So Paul told the slaves and servants to obey and serve with respect and fear, and sincerity of heart. Thus they would be doing God's will from their heart. "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men," Paul urged, "because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free" (Ephesians 6:5-7).

      It's not easy for us to follow such advice when we are being mistreated. I found it really hard to back down to the humble attitude that makes it possible. When being mistreated, our first response is a primitive one: anger. Our next response is indignation and self-righteousness: "How dare that person do this to me!" But when I realized that in this I was thinking more of myself than of the Lord and His work, I knew I had to heed Him.

CHANGED ATTITUDE: JOY IN SERVICE

      When my attitude was changed, I found much more joy in my service. I could sit there at the organ, playing, singing, and smiling with joy. 

      "To see you sitting there smiling and singing lifts my heart," one lady told me. Well, I sure wouldn't have lifted anyone's heart with a sour, angry look on my face! I'm certainly glad the Lord set me straight!

      The nice thing about it is: not only do we enjoy our service much more, but on top of that God promises to reward us in our afterlife with Him. Isn't that great?

      As some wise sage said, "Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses." 

      And God's Word says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).

Copyright Muriel Larson