Rev Bill

Purpose 4 of Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life is:

Warren continues this theme in day 34 — Thinking Like A Servant. Beginning with the sentence: Service starts in your mind Warren stresses that most people have to undergo a “mental shift”, or a change in attitudes, to be a servant. Warren illustrates this in the 5 points he raises about the attitude of a servant:

1. Servants think more about others than about themselves
If you using your gifts and abilities to serve God and others, you need to focus on others, not on yourself. This does not mean you think less of yourself, but that you think of yourself less. There is a difference!

2. Servants think like stewards, not owners
All that you have — your gifts, your abilities, your money — everything — really belongs to God. It all has been given to you by God to use to serve Him and others.

3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.
You can’t try to compare what you are doing with what others are doing or feel superior to others. Everyone has a different gift. Focus on using yours to be best of your ability without worrying about how others are using theirs!

4. Servants base their identity in Christ
The more you humbly see yourself as using your gifts and talents as a servant of Christ — the gave Himself for you — the more you can give of yourself for others.

5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
The opportunities you have to use your gifts and talents are opportunities to do God’s work in the world.

Warren ends day 34 with a challenge:

Imagine what would happen if just 10% of the Christians in the world got serious about being servants. Imagine what could be done for God’s glory. Will you use your gifts for the ministry God calls you to do?

Lord — Give me the attitude of a servant. Let me use what You have given me for Your glory and for the benefit of others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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