Making Room For Others
The Servant Song (Richard Gillard)
Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
We're together on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.
Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant too.
Written by British New Zealander Richard Gillard in 1977, "The Servant Song" is such a beautiful expression of the Christian call to community and friendship, marked by selfless service, a walking alongside, and the bearing of one another's joys, sorrows, and fears. Jesus' words to His disciples in Matthew 20:26–28 inspired the song's main theme: But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Other scriptural allusions include: And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (Matthew 5:41),Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), and Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Many years ago, when I was in Sunday School, I was taught the secret to having joy – Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. We know we should put Jesus first, but how often do we put the needs of others ahead of self-interest? It can be very instructive to study all the 'one another' passages in scripture. For example:
Love one another (John 13:34)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honour one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs(Ephesians 5:19)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works(Hebrews 10:24)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)
Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)
Do not slander one another (James 4:11)
Don't grumble against each other (James 5:9)
What a long list! God is surely teaching us the importance of how we treat other people and, especially, how we speak to people. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that our words have the power to bring life or death to people. James 3:9-10 says, 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Are we using our words to build people up or to tear them down? Our ABC of communicating with people should be to ask the following question before we open our mouths – is what we are going to say Affirming, Biblical and Christlike? There may well be times when it is right to bring a word of rebuke, correction or disapproval, but people will be reluctant to hear these from people who never also praise, encourage and love them.
The overarching theme for our time of prayer and fasting is 'make room'. This includes making room for others. Let's not be so conceited and introspective that we prioritise our own selfish desires whilst ignoring the needs of others around us. Let us be intentional about recognising, acknowledging and encouraging the potential and gifting in other people, and creating space and opportunity for this potential and gifting to be utilised for the glory and honour of God's Kingdom. In so doing, we are following the example of Christ, who is the supreme Servant King. As Graham Kendrick once wrote:
So let us learn how to serve,
And in our lives enthrone Him,
Each other's needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we're serving.
This is our God, the Servant King;
He calls us now to follow Him:
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.
Prayer
Father God, we remind ourselves of the words of Your Son in John 13:35, that everyone will know that we are His disciples if we show love to one another. May our love for each other be strong and steadfast. May we learn to serve each other and to elevate the needs of others above our own interests. Please help us to be people who encourage and disciple others so that they can flourish in the gifts that You have placed within them, that they may realise the full potential of Your calling upon their lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen!
