Jump Start # 612

James 1:1 “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.”

The opening sentence to the book of James begins like most N.T. books. It tells us the author, the audience and a pleasant greeting. We don’t too excited about verses like that. Often in Bible classes our emphasis is figuring out which James this is and understanding who the twelve tribes are. Good stuff. We need to know those things. However, one of the greatest statements in this verse is overlooked, “a bond-servant of God.”

A better translation would be a slave of God. Servant carries a softer edge than a slave. Many could be servants, but few would want to be a slave. Servants work for someone else. Slaves are owned by someone else. At the end of the day, the servant goes home. For the slave, he cannot leave. He has no rights, privileges, no advocacy. Servants got paid. Slaves did not. Servants often became servants because of debt. Once the debt was paid, they were free. Slaves were slaves as long as their masters wanted that relationship. If a slave ran, he was hunted down. If caught, he could be branded, crippled or even killed. Slaves were viewed about the way we view a shovel, they were tools.

We don’t like the concept of slavery. Our history has moved away from that concept. All are equal. All have rights. All are free. The spirit of freedom breeds irresponsibility. Some in thinking that they are free, use that to say anything, even if it is offensive or crude. Others feel like it give them the right to be their own law. I’ll do what I want, when I want. Such thinking and such living is more irresponsibility than it is freedom. The last thing most want is to be a slave.

Most of the apostles referred to themselves as slaves of Christ. This was not negative. This wasn’t complaining. This wasn’t said to seek sympathy or pity from others. This was a choice, their choice. They wanted to be slaves of Christ. They were glad to be slaves of Christ.

First, no one could have a better Master than Jesus. He was kind, helpful and loving. He is good to all.

Second, the concept of slavery to Christ means discipleship. It is becoming like the Master. It is the surrender of your life for His life. It is doing things God’s way. It is, as Paul told the Galatians, “Christ lives in me.” That’s what James meant. That’s what all Christians should want. We belong to Christ. Christ is our Master. We do His will, not ours. We do things His way, not our way.

The process of becoming a slave is surrender. We give up. We release. We let Christ take over the wheel. We sing a song that says, “I surrender all…” Easy to sing, tough to do. The thought of the slave is pleasing the Master. If the Master is not happy, life is not good for the slave. If the slave did what he wanted to do first, and then got around to doing what the master wanted, he would be in trouble—lots of trouble.

Our biggest enemy is not atheism, Eastern religions, socialism, or even Satan. Our biggest problem is self. Self gets in the way most times. Self wants to be first. Self wants to be recognized and praised. Self seeks to do what it wants to do. In defining discipleship Jesus said that anyone who wanted to follow Him had to first, Deny self. Following Christ without denying self won’t last long. You’ll come to an intersection where Christ wants you to go one way and you feel like going another. Who wins? Which way will you go?  Without denying self, you’ll follow the path that you want. Christ, right then, becomes second place to self. Other situations will follow. This will be a battle the rest of your life—self or Christ. Self usually wins.  This is why we must start with denying self. Denial. Refusing. Saying “no.” In basketball, the expression, “denied” is used when a player blocks the shot of someone else. He was denied a basket. Spiritually, denial takes place when we put Christ first over self. It’s hard to do that. It takes faith. It take realizing that what Christ wants is far better than what we want. It takes knowing that pleasing Christ in the end is the best that can happen to us.

James was a slave of Christ. He was glad. He loved to serve Jesus. He was happy he could be used. God doesn’t need a room full of volunteers, He need’s an army of slaves, those that will put God first. Those that will sacrifice for Him. Those that will deny self. Comfort, ease, happiness, and fun are the concerns of volunteers. Slaves are about getting things done right for the Master. Volunteers think about what they will do once they are finished volunteering. Slaves don’t think those thoughts. They don’t see beyond being slaves. They are slaves and they will remain slaves. They want to be slaves.

I have volunteered for a few charitable events in the past. You give a few hours on a Saturday, get a cool t-shirt, meet some folks, move a few tables, answer a few questions and then it’s over. You go home and you tend to forget about it. Not so with slaves. Slavery defines who you are. You are a slave.

Will you do anything for Jesus? Even if it costs money? Even if it takes time? Even if involves your lifetime? I think it’s time we got back to the slavery concept. Sitting in a church building on Sunday, but being a different person at work on Monday isn’t the image Jesus has in mind. You belong to Him. Everywhere. All the time. That means on a date, you belong to Jesus. Behave yourself! That means on vacation you belong to Jesus. None of this “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” No. You belong to Jesus. That means at work, you belong to Jesus. Office gossip, corporate cheating, walking over others—not in your plans any longer. You belong to Jesus. That means, you’ll be at worship services, even on days when you don’t feel like going. Why? Because you are a slave to Jesus. It means you’ll shake the salt and shine the light of godly influence because you belong to Jesus. Slavery isn’t about what I feel like doing or what I want to do, it’s all about the Master. It’s seeking the Master first.

Members of organizations come and go. They join and then they quit. Slaves don’t do that. They don’t quit. They belong. Years ago, we had a kid in the neighborhood who would give us some of his toys for our birthday presents. I remember a green plastic army truck that he gave one of us. On the bottom of the truck was his name. It was a used toy that he didn’t want anymore. His name was still on it.  In many ways, that’s us spiritually. We carry the name of Jesus on us. We belong to him.

James belonged to Jesus. Do you? How much of you belongs to Jesus? Remember He said to love God with ALL your heart, mind and soul. ALL—that’s denial. That’s surrender. That’s slavery. That’s freedom in Christ. That’s the only way you’ll be anything with the Lord—is to give Him your all.

Roger