“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1)

In this epistle to the saints at Philippi, Paul identifies himself and Timotheus as servants of Jesus Christ. What is a servant and what is his duty? In the Greek language the word for servant is “doulos” which also means “a slave.” This is the lowest secular position that one can come into. One is either made a slave by force or born into this position. The only freedom is by means of death or redemption.

When we were born, we were born slaves to sin. But if you are a saved child of God, set free from the bondage of sin by the blood of Jesus, then you are no longer a slave to sin, because you are dead to sin (Romans 6:1-6). We can then, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Although this is in reference to the law, sin also entangles us, bringing us into bondage. It is only by the precious blood of Jesus Christ that we are redeemed, set free from this bondage.

On the other hand, not all of us are free. There are some of us who have stayed in bondage to, and remain servants of, the world, sin and the flesh. Some try to serve these three while trying to serve God; “no servant can serve two masters” (Luke 16:13). We have to make a choice. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). Anything that one puts before God is an idol and that is what you serve and what you are a servant of. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve (Joshua 24:14-15 and Deuteronomy 30:10-19).

We all have a choice as to who and what we are to be servants of; whether it be the God of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; or the god of this world along with this sinful flesh. To whom you yield yourselves to obey, his servants ye are. We can yield to sin which brings death, for the wages of sin is death; or we can yield to obedience unto righteousness, which gives us eternal life. We don’t have to serve sin, the world, the flesh or Satan. If we would just obey the Word of God and serve Him in sincerity and truth, we could have the Peace of God in our lives that passes all understanding.

So the conclusion of the whole matter is to serve God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Can you testify to, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)

Whose servant are you?