Servants and Patrons VI

 . . . for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

 - From Song of Solomon 2

Servants recognize their Master's voice. In the Song of Solomon, the maiden, who has been waiting for what seemed like ages, finally hears the voice of her lover . . . her Master . . . from way off in the distance. She knows it is Him, for she has practiced listening since she first met Him.

Her Master is her Lover. And with that we identify the chief component of Real Love: a setting aside of oneself, and a prizing of one's Life Partner. Real Love, marital love, godly love, is superior to brotherly love, and much more so, than romantic love. Brotherly love is a sort of 50-50 agreement where the relationship works as long as we both enjoy being together and helping one another out. Romantic love is no more than a chemically-induced response to another person, that makes you "feel good." You get a sort of narcotic rush from this form of "love."

But Love that acts as servant to the Lover (an attitude which is reciprocated) is Real Love. It's eternal, and it's unconditional.

Some people, in our times, will cringe at the way the maiden here sits around doing nothing, just pining away for her Lover . . . her Master . . . to finally come and take her away. But didn't Christ serve his brethren . . . His disciples? Didn't he feed them, teach them, forgive them, wash their feet, heal them, die for them? He deserves to be called "Master," for He was the ultimate servant to us.

Our acts, our idle tasks and busy-ness, counts as pining compared to the acts of Christ. And I have seen even the most ardent feminist admit to wanting to be swept away by a champion . . . if such fairy tales could only come true.

A servant is a listener. A servant does not serve grudgingly. A servant loves pleasing his or her Master! Servants practice Real Love. And Love is what we all desire most. 

And, a servant is also a patron. Christ served us . . . but then provided for us, enabled us, cared for us. He checks in on us. And He gives to us.

Interesting . . . that the support for servants, ultimately, comes from other servants.