A Real Pilgrim's Progress: A Purpose Driven Life

A Purpose Driven Life Chapter 33 - How Real Servants Act

Chapter Overview: We serve God by serving others. 'If you give even a cold cup of water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.' Matt 10:42. Rick talks about:

Real servants makes themselves available to serve. We should be on God's time-table - not trying to fit God and service into our time-table.
Real servants pay attention to needs. They serve where the need is.
Real servants do the best with what they have. We don't wait for perfection, or the perfect conditions, or procrastinate.
Real servants to every task with equal dedication
Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Faithful and loyal.
Real servants maintain a low profile.

2011 (40 years old)

I've heard a lot of teaching about the 'servants heart' and being a servant over the years - especially when I lived in Texas, so this seemed like a lot of 'review'. But Rick made some interesting points just the same. I had a hard time reading this chapter and not being cynical/critical in a couple of spots. He starts writing almost in absolutes that makes it hard for me to find a balance. I don't like that. Perhaps it's the perspective I'm reading it with.

Serving - paying attention to the needs of others and doing something about it

2016 (45 years old)

Which of the characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me? Probably the first two. Real servants make themselves available to serve; and, Real servants pay attention to needs. The way he writes it sounds like we need to jump to help every need. His words: 'real servants do what's needed, even when it's inconvenient'. That can easily be taken too far. We need to be discerning, I think. Another quote from the bible he takes perhaps out of context a bit?- 'Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers'. Where does our own family fit into that? How many families have been destroyed because the needs of the church came before the needs of the family? I'm getting fuzzy on priorities in my life reading this. There's definitely tension in my life between serving at church and serving at home with my family. This book doesn't talk about families much.

For background on what these 'Purpose Driven Life' posts are about, click this link.

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 1 - Its Not About Me

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 2 - You Are Not an Accident

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 3 - What Drives You?

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 4 - Eternity In Our Hearts

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 5 - What is Life?

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 6 - Life on Earth is a Temporary Assignment

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 7 - The Reason for Everything

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 8 - You Were Planned for God's Pleasure

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 9 - What Makes God Smile?

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 10 - The Surrendered Life

Purpose Driven Life Chapter 11 - Friend of God