Mark Peay

Many of us, especially the races of us who have had to deal with the tyranny of slavery in the annals of our fore parents’ history, often have a problem with this area. Whenever I teach in the arena of service mindedness, I can see people balk in the spirit. It’s not until I make the following statement that I see them breathe a sigh of relief: There is a difference between service and servitude.

For support of this statement, let’s go to the dictionary’s definition for both words. Service is defined as: Employment in duties or work for another. Servitude is defined as: Submission to a master; forced labor imposed as a punishment.

Do you see the difference?  Service means employing. Employing means wages! Wages means compensation! Hallelujah, there is a benefit in service! We may not get compensated in terms of money all the time (although I believe in blessing God’s ministers). But we can rest assured that our heavenly time card will account for our deeds done.

It is a slap in the face of God to serve mammon (secular employment, volunteer organizations, etc.) with vigor, excitement, willingness and enthusiasm, yet sigh and complain when asked to do anything in God’s House. Jesus is our example: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).  Does serving someone else in ministry excite you? It should. It’s our reasonable service!