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The Heart of a Servant
“We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.”
Luke 17.10
Recently Greg Gravitt, our brother in Christ, passed away. He was a friend, mentor and Christ-like example to me and to many. When I heard of his passing, many thoughts flooded my mind. But there was one moment with him that kept coming back to me.
I was at Indiana Bible Camp. During his class, he asked the question, “How many people do you think I have converted?” A variety of answers were given such as 50 or 100. He stood there, hearing the answers, and proceeded to hold up a zero with his hand. He described how he had not converted anyone. He was simply a servant of Christ, bringing others to the truth of the gospel message. The power is in the gospel message and that is what converts people.
That humility and servant’s attitude had an impact on me. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 17 about servants. Jesus tells His disciples when they do the things which are commanded of them, they should say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17.10). This was brother Gravitt’s attitude and the attitude we should possess today.
We cannot allow pride to slip into our lives, even when we are doing good deeds. We must be proclaiming the excellencies of Christ (1 Peter 2.9-10). Do people think you’re just a good person? Or do they know that you are the way you are because of Jesus Christ? We must give all the glory to Him.
We cannot be fooled and think the power is in us. For we are merely servants of God. The power is in God; the opportunity to be forgiven, the power to be raised, the adoption to be His heir (1 Corinthians 3.4-7). The power of conversion lies with Him. We are merely His servants spreading the gospel message.
Our brother will be missed. I do not bring up this moment to glorify our brother. That is not what he would want. Rather, I am providing it as a reminder of who we should be.
Humble servants of God.
Be a servant of God and give Him all the glory and honor!
