Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. Even Christians want to be "servant-leaders," not just plain servants. Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. We serve God by serving others. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.

No special talent is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant.

Real servants:

• Make themselves available to serve.
  A soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty. If you only serve when it's convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever he needs to.
  
  
• Pay attention to needs.
  Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. Great opportunities to serve never last long. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment.
  
  
• Do their best with what they have.
  Servants don't make excuses, or wait for better circumstances. God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention.
  
  
• Do every task with equal dedication.
  Whatever they do, servants "do it with all their heart." The size of the task is irrelevant. Small tasks often show a big heart. Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers.
  
  
• Are faithful to their ministry.
  Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. God tests your faithfulness. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God.
  
  
• Maintain a low profile.
  Self-promotion and servanthood don't mix. Real servants don't serve for the approval or applause of others; they are content with quietly serving in the shadows. Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities.

Question to Consider:
Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?

Verse to Remember:
If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded."

Matthew 10:42