Anxiety

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

   The above verse is a very popular and often quoted verse. But, how does one actually do that? Not long ago I was discussing this verse with someone. In that conversation they flat out admitted that they had no idea how to apply it, or how it is supposed to work in a practical sense. I didn't have an answer for him either. 

  Well in my routine reading I came across this very verse, and noticed something about the context that I hadn't before. Which I might not have if not for that earlier conversation. This verse is actually part of a larger passage on the subject of humility. Take a moment to contemplate that.

   Casting our anxiety upon God actually requires humility on our part. Which brings up the question, have you been treating it that way in application? Or are you just pleading with God to take your anxiety away without having to humble yourself, or admit to anything. The very fact that a believer is experiencing anxiety, might very well be a sign that they are taking part in a less than Christ like attitude in some way. Like giving into fear, not truly trusting in God's provision or council, confusing your preferences for principle, not correcting in a loving manner, or basing your happiness on human approval rather than being God's heir. These are all things that need to be repented of, and apparently repentance requires having enough humility to address misguided behaviors and willful sins honestly. 

   While this one detail may not be all there is to know about 1 Peter 5:7, but it is a start that needs to taken into consideration.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. -Romans 12:3

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. -James 4:10

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Servanthood?

 The other day in my routine reading I came across Mark 10:35-45. Which got me thinking that within the church, the idea of leadership training keeps coming up more frequently all the time. Sometimes a church will even go as far as to have a workshop or host a seminar on the subject. Yet, Biblically speaking, shouldn't it be servant training? Service is a rather crucial part of discipleship after all. A very neglected part of discipleship I dare say. Which begs the question, why is this?

For one, servanthood has a rather negative stigma in our self-indignant culture. If we did indeed try to host a servant training seminar, rather than a leadership one, how much response do you think we would seriously get. Yet are the kind of people who would be turned off by the humble role of a servant, the kind of people we would want as leaders of the church. Yet, aren't such people the ones with the most influence in the church right now? Is this not a sign that worldly values may have too much influence within the church? 

However, the desire to possess authority is not the only thing that dissuades people from servanthood. Sometimes it is just the opposite. There are plenty of people who have absolutely no desire to take on the daunting task of leadership, but such people are not necessarily interested in the responsibility of servanthood either. Presently there is a rather large group of people in the church that only wants to be served. An attitude that stems from a sense of inadequacy, brokenness, or they are just too wrapped up in their battle with self to get involved with servanthood. A sign that far too many people are fighting their battles all alone. Which is an indicator that our leaders haven't served the church the way they should be, by standing by them, and advising them through their battles with the flesh. Nor have we taught them to walk with God or seek his council in our spiritual struggles in a practical enough a way. 

I contend that if we were embracing Biblical servanthood as we should, we would be inspiring people to become servants themselves. Plus, we would be getting past this shallow faith that is so common right now. Instead, I see a bunch of broken soldiers. Many of which are going awol when our leaders push them onto the front lines of outreach. The ones that remain seek only the emotional boost the church offers once or twice a week. A boost that they have grown dependent upon to ease the pain of their wounds, since their two-dimensional doesn't get them any farther than that. 

I think it is time we consider the role of servanthood in our discipleship again. Without it, we will remain stuck where we are. 

Jesus' example on servanthood 

John 13:1-17

Joshua's instructions for taking over Moses' role as servant.

Joshua 1:1-9

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