Baptist City Blog

James 1:1

Quite the interesting greeting James gives when he calls himself “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word "servant" can certainly carry a negative meaning if not quite understood. A servant is different from a slave in that a slave is held in an involuntary manner while a servant voluntarily serves his master. Both serve their master, but one does it out of obligation while the other does it out of love for their master. Now the question we should ask ourselves is this, are we a slave or a servant of God? In this chapter, God shows us four characteristics of a servant.

First, a servant is joyful in trials. Verse 2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” The servant of Christ doesn't complain about their trials, but they realize that their trials are perfecting them for the work of the LORD. You can be a slave and complain about the hardships of the Christian life or you can be a servant and take your trials and determine to let them have their “perfect work.” The servant realizes that God loves them enough to put them through hardships because those hardships prepare them for a greater work later in life. If you are going to be a servant of the LORD, then you are going to have to learn to be joyful in trials.

Second, a servant is firm in the faith. Verse 6 says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” The servant of Christ has determined that the life of Christ is the best life to live. When trials or hardships come, the servant of Christ doesn’t consider another life, but they have already determined that they are going to serve Christ no matter what. The slave is “double minded” and “unstable in all his ways.” The slave second guesses if the Christian life is really for them. You need to settle it now that the Christian life is the life you are going to live no matter what comes your way.

Third, a servant is obedient to the Word. Verse 22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” The servant of the LORD doesn't just listen to the sermon, but they obey what the LORD told them to do through the sermon. They don't question the Word of God, but they obey the Word of God by faith. The slave constantly asks, “Why?” If you are going to be a servant of the LORD, then you must not just listen, but by faith obey what God tells you to do.

Fourth, a servant cares for the afflicted. Verse 27 shows how the servant visits “the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” The servant is does not make life about themselves, but they make life about serving others. On the other hand, the slave will only do what benefits them. The servant of Christ realizes that their purpose is to please their master, and the way you do that is through living a selfless life.

Let me ask you, are you a servant or a slave? You can live the life of a slave, but you will eventually become bitter about the Christian life. I encourage you to accept being a servant of Jesus Christ. You are going to serve someone, but your mindset will determine whether you serve as a servant or a slave. Choose to be a servant as this is the most fulfilling life you can live.