4 Timeless Servanthood Principles to Embrace This Christmas
Christmas will be here soon!
Focusing on servanthood this Christmas can help us prepare our hearts for both this season and Christ’s return. Imagine a dear friend you haven’t seen in years is coming to visit for Christmas. How would you prepare? You’d clean, cook their favourite meal, and leave a light on, perhaps staying up late to welcome them.
What if that friend is Jesus? How do we prepare our hearts for His return?
In Luke 12:35–40, Jesus teaches about a faithful servant who stays ready, even into the second or third watch of the night. What if we embraced servanthood this Christmas through the four timeless principles found in this passage, that can guide us in faith and action?
Servanthood This Christmas 1: Understand the Servant’s Benefit
In Jesus’ time, servanthood wasn’t just a duty; it was often a lifeline. For many, submitting oneself to the authority of a master and becoming a servant meant shelter, food, and security. These were provisions that weren’t guaranteed otherwise.
For followers of Christ, servanthood comes with incredible blessings. We receive salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice, the Father’s unending provision, and the Holy Spirit’s comfort and guidance. These blessings sustain us not just today but as we look forward to Christ’s return.
Understanding the benefits of servanthood can help us stay rooted in gratitude and service.
Servanthood This Christmas 2: Imitate the Servant’s Readiness
Jesus distinguishes between two types of servants: those who slack off when the Master is away and those who stay ready, even into the early hours.
What kind of servant am I? Am I faithful even when life feels quiet and uneventful, or am I only “ready” when I feel Christ’s nearness? Christmas calls me to keep my spiritual lamp burning bright, to remain dressed for action, and to anticipate His return with joy and expectancy.
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home…” (Luke 12:35–36, ESV)
This readiness is central to servanthood, as we live with faith and hope in Christ’s promises.
Servanthood This Christmas 3: Accept the Servant’s Reward
Picture this: the Master returns home and does something unthinkable. He dresses like a servant, seats the faithful at His table, and serves them. It’s an image of incredible grace. This is our story! As believers, we are not only servants but also heirs of God.
Paul writes in Romans, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:16–17, ESV)
This truth humbles me. It reminds me that our faithfulness is met with overwhelming grace, love, and honour from our King. Accepting this reward reinforces the beauty of Christmas.
Servanthood This Christmas 4: Light the Servant’s Lamp
The faithful servant’s lamp never burns out. If it dims, it’s refilled with oil and reignited. The light symbolizes readiness, but it also shines for others. Jesus, the Light of the World, calls us to shine His light brightly.
He says, “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, ESV)
Our lamps—our lives—are meant to illuminate the hope of the Gospel. Living out servanthood this Christmas means keeping our lamps burning brightly, waiting expectantly for His return, and sharing His light with the world.
A Simple Challenge for Servanthood This Christmas
This Christmas, commit to reading the Gospel of Luke during the downtime, like curling up with a good book. If you’re reading this post at the beginning of December, there are 24 chapters, to work through, leading up to Christmas. It’s a powerful way to keep our hearts focused on His first coming and His promise to come again.
Here’s a prayer to guide you through each chapter:
“Lord, help me to be a faithful servant, keeping my lamp burning bright. Show me how to prepare for Your return and reflect Your light to others.”
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- What does being a faithful servant of Christ mean to you this season?
- How can we keep our spiritual lamps burning brightly during the busyness of Christmas?
- What steps are you taking to prepare for both Christmas and Christ’s return?
