Servanthood

One of our most treasured core values is Servanthood. Servanthood is defined as: “a person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant; or, a person employed in the service of a government (Kingdom); or lastly, a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.” I think that most people think of the first definition when they hear the word “servant”, but the other two can add so much depth to our understanding – we who consider ourselves servants of God, can see that we serve Him as members of His Household, as employees in the service of His Kingdom and are devoted and helpful followers and supporters.

We, at J-Bar, have a common belief that we are here to serve God, our families, each other, the community and lastly ourselves. We treasure the opportunity to serve others as we have been served in this life. We strive to be servant leaders, selfless and in the image of our greatest teacher and servant leader, Jesus Christ.

Father John Stott put it like this: “The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is only safe in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.”

C.S. Lewis wrote: “Selflessness is not thinking less of one’s self; rather it is thinking of one’s self less”; and St. Augustine said: “Humility is what makes Angels of men and pride is what turned Angels into devils.”

We are called to be humble and kind, as our prayer states. We are called to be leaders of the world around us, and we do that first by serving.

We are J-Bar — we are blessed beyond measure. We love — we are thankful beyond measure. We serve, and in so doing become the leaders that God wants us to be.