Article May 19, 1956 Issue

SERVING

[Original article in German]

HERTHA POLEMANN

If by way of conversation someone asks us what comes to thought when the word "serve" is mentioned, we sometimes picture one who does menial service, or one required to do some unpleasant or difficult work which has been assigned to him. Frequently a feeling of compulsion, of submission to the will of a master, sometimes even bitterness about the kind of work required, seems to be associated with the word. If, however, we consider the word in the light of Christian Science, we no longer see in it these negative aspects.

In the Bible the words "serve" and "servant" are often used in connection with God and the worship of God. Some of the great Jewish leaders and kings, such as Moses, David, and Daniel, were servants of "the living God." Samuel, who had been dedicated as a boy to the service of the Lord, became a prophet and a judge. Through his humility, courage, and trust in God from childhood, David reached the heights of kingship. As we compare these individuals with one another, we realize that they all had certain qualities of character which constituted their greatness. First and foremost we find a sense of obedience. Each of those mentioned did what God required of him.

In Christ Jesus we perceive the highest type of servant, whose unsurpassed humility is often recorded in the Gospels. In many of his parables Jesus spoke about real service—for example, in the parable of the talents entrusted to the servants (Matt. 25:14-30). In this parable Jesus refers to the reward given to a "good and faithful servant," namely to be made "ruler over many things."

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