Servants and Patrons (Park)

... we will serve the Lord.

 - From Joshua 24

The interesting thing about the concept of "service" is that we both revere and abhor it at the same time. 

A person that voluntarily serves is, on paper, highly honored. But taken to its extreme, a person's service becomes involuntary. And if it edges into forced service, it becomes slavery.

The form of the word "servant" rendered "servitude" has a negative connotation. It reminds us of the phrase "Indentured Servitude," which is synonymous with slavery. And yet we are called to be slaves of Christ, which is good.

The greater must serve the lesser, says The Lord. We acknowledge this intellectually, but do we do it?

We can serve our country, serve out community, serve our family, serve our constituents, but all of these sound harmless and noteworthy enough. But it gets awkward when we start saying "Serve your boss, serve your employees, serve your spouse, serve your kids, serve your co-workers, etc."

Why? Is service good, or isn't it?

If we say "I am here to serve you" with sincerity, the other person may then take advantage of you. And the person that serves too much, without reciprocity, in a relationship, is called "co-dependent," which makes them now a person that needs professional therapy. 

And . . . just have a high schooler announcing his career plans to his parents: "I just want to serve others. Let me become a checkout person at the grocery store. That's all I want to do." That child is now thought to be without motivation or goals. 

Is service good? Or isn't it?

Joshua called on Israel to serve God. His main rationale for that is something they agreed with: "We're going to stick with what works. God got us our freedom. He kept us safe in the wilderness. He defeated our enemies for us. We are safe, secure, free, healthy, wealthy, and wise: we will stay with the Lord."

Service to God made them the world's masters, for a time. The last shall be first.

And how does one serve God? By serving others. 

We begin a series of reflections on servants in our communities, and the need for us to encourage, and support them.