SERVICE TO CHRIST, AND SERVING HIM IN EARTHLY DUTIES
SERVICE TO CHRIST, AND SERVING HIM IN EARTHLY DUTIES
The Lord very definitely describes what service is, when He says, “If any man serve me, let him follow me” (John 12: 26). The word “serve” there is the same as [p. 84] that used for serve in the earlier part of the chapter with reference to Martha. It is quite a different word for service in Colossians 3, etc. The true way to correct an idea is to see simply how the scripture presents the truth, and then if the statement challenged does not agree with it, it must be refused. Service to Christ has a very wide range, but I only serve Him as I follow Him. “If any man serve me, let him follow me”. Whenever I follow Christ, I am serving Him; but I never can follow Him save in death to myself, for that is the connection of the verse in John 12: 26. A christian is not only one endowed with grace; he is a new man; he is called to walk here for a little time where Christ is not, but to walk here for Him as His follower; this is his calling; the top-shoot, the leader of his whole being and course. This is the simple duty of every member of Christ. To every one there is given a gift of grace. Pre-eminently he is to live Christ. The leading-shoot is that which determines the height, growth, and value of the tree. But in order to conduce to this leading-shoot and to the full flourishing of the tree, there are collateral branches which have their value and importance in contributing to the growth and value of the tree of which the leading-shoot is the pioneer and exemplar. The leading-shoot for me is following Christ; but I may require many collateral duties and labours to contribute to the comely and effectual carrying out of my purpose of heart in following Him. For instance, being a domestic man is not the leading-shoot, but it may be a very valuable branch or collateral duty, qualifying me, as in the case of a bishop, for carrying out my leading idea, viz., service to Christ; and if I fail in that branch, I necessarily hinder the growth and value of the tree, and retard the progress of the leading-shoot. But it is a mistake to make the wife or the children the leading-shoot. It is the school in the wilderness; the scholar that gets on likes his lessons; but lessons are not service, though they be [p. 85] auxiliary to service. The lessons are needed, and if they are unheeded, the service will be damaged.
Again: being a slave, in itself is not service, though as such, I am, as Christ’s slave, honouring Him and showing Him forth under the most trying circumstances. Service is not the fact of being a slave or of being a good one; but the fact of acting for Christ in the position in which, by God’s providence, I am set. Thus I should not become either a slave or a husband to find a sphere of service, but I may find either duty a very useful auxiliary to me in serving Him, and the claims on me would give opportunity for the expression of the grace of Christ, which would be service; but the mere duties themselves would not be service. I am to serve Christ through the duties - the branches, but the branches are not the leading-shoot; and I repeat that the leading-shoot can never be attained but through self-denial, though I am prepared and better formed for it by the collateral duties. A beautiful tree grows systematically; the leading-shoot surpasses the branches, but is not outside of them, as if independent of them. Nay, it is dependent on them for its own vigour, and unchecked by them it contributes to them and they to it. They mutually support one another; but service to Christ must work higher than nature and superior to it, though the natural duties may fit one for doing so in a more comely way, and afford opportunity too for service, which is always above nature.