Today’s attitude is “me first.” Many people want nothing to do with serving others. From time to time, there are those who have charitable causes they serve, but most of the time, a big deal is made of one person serving another. I wonder how many would serve if they could serve anonymously. A true servant does not serve for the glory. They serve because they care, and there is a need.
The apostle Paul often referred to himself as a bond slave or a doulos—a voluntary servant. Doulos is a Greek word often used in the New Testament for a slave or servant. It describes a unique class of servants, someone who was not made that way by constraint or by force. A doulos was someone who had been set free but chose to serve their master out of love. Thus, this servant would be called a doulos—a bondservant, a servant by choice.
Servanthood is an attitude exemplified by Christ. He was the greatest servant of all. Philippians 2:6-7 “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” Serving others is the very essence of ministry. In Matthew 28:18-20, all believers are called to ministry, and therefore, we are all called to be servants for the glory of God. Some have the idea that ministry and servanthood belong only to those who are in the office of “Minister.” However, while the Minister should be ministering to others, it is a responsibility given to every Christian.
Paul begins verse 25 by reaffirming he is made a minister by God. He wants everyone to know his assignment was not self-willed but designed by God himself. He is to fulfill God’s purpose, which is to preach the gospel to everyone. Paul was not a respecter of persons and was intent on taking the gospel to the Gentiles and Jews.
Colossians 1:25 “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;”
Paul knew his mission in life was to serve Christ by serving others. He was not influenced by men as to what to say or to whom to say it. He was a servant who loved his Master and was overwhelmed by the love his Master had for him.
Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
In verse 26, he discusses a mystery. A mystery is nothing more than a truth that was previously hidden and made known by God’s revelation.
Paul comes to grips with the risen Savior that came to die for all men. His goal was to serve Christ continually and to share with everyone, everywhere. Paul seeks to reveal this mystery of Christ coming and dying for all. He explains to them the mystery of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit once we have repented and believed.
Colossians 1:26-27 “Even the mystery which hath been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
From the day of his conversion until the day he died, Paul was a servant. It didn’t matter where he was—in a temple, on a ship, in prison, or in a home where they were seeking Christ—he was serving others and Christ. In Romans 1:1, that is how he identifies himself.
Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”
Selflessness was a characteristic of Paul. He never got over what Jesus had done for him. He was willing to suffer and to serve and sought nothing more. He wanted more than anything to share the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ.
What about you? Can you say your passion is to share Christ? Does what he has done for you consume you? Are you willing to serve no matter what others think or say?
