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There are several major issues of the heart that need to be settled for one to be a faithful servant for the Lord. The life of a servant should display the characteristics of humility, compassion, teachability and faithfulness. The spirit of humility serves without desiring a reward. Matthew 6:2,3 says this, "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Being a servant of the Lord has no room for boastfulness or pride - that belongs to the Pharisees! Humility is much opposite of standing at the street corner in order to be seen by men, it involves doing things in secret to give honor and worship unto the Lord. Jesus modeled humility in servant-hood by washing His disciple's feet, this is found in John 13:6-8. "Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are you washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
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Most of the time a servant performed the task of washing the guest's feet before they entered into a house. Jesus used this example to teach his disciples a lesson in humility and selfless service. By washing the disciple's feet, He portrayed servant-hood and demonstrated to His followers that nobody in His service should think it below his dignity to perform the lowliest tasks for others. Andrew Murray puts it this way; "Humility is a true self denial to which our Savoir calls us - the acknowledgment that self has nothing good in it except as an empty vessel which God must fill." The heart of compassion plays a major role in the life of a servant. A compassionate heart can easily discern the practical needs of others and does everything possible to meet their needs. A person of compassion is generally more concerned about the needs of others rather than their own needs. Compassion asks the question; what can I do to comfort a person in their time of need or great distress? Jesus was a Man of great compassion, Matthew 9:36 reads, "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Jesus saw the need of the multitudes and compassion moved Him to do something about that need. It takes a compassionate heart to recognize the smallest of needs. When compassion comes alive in the heart, it leads a person to serve in the midst of the need. Compassion calls a servant to "come forth"!
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