On being a servant to one master - Hebrews 11:32, 38 with a story from John Kenneth Galbraith autobiography about his family's housekeeper.

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11:32, 38 (KJV)

And what more shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha…of whom the world was not worthy.

STORY:

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you.” When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."

OBSERVATION:

When the speaker was asked, “Who is the greatest living preacher?” the questioner was expecting a response along the lines of a Graham, a Schuller, or at least something along those lines. We were all surprised when the speaker responded, “We probably don’t know his or her name. It is probably an under-educated man or woman serving a small-membership church in the hills of Kentucky. Being famous doesn’t make one a great preacher … being a faithful servant does.”

Much like Emily Gloria Wilson our role as a Christian is simply the role of a servant … nothing more … nothing less. It is not the recognition, the fame, the accolades, the honors, the “name-in-the-paper,” the “getting-published” syndrome, becoming a District Superintendent, getting elected to episcopacy, being invited to preach at various churches … but it is simply going about the task that God has placed in our hands.

The servants of God are the glue that holds together the earthly Kingdom of God. It is those men and women – the young and old – who just go about the task at hand because it needs to be done. They are the people who see something that should happen… that needs to happen… that ought to happen … and they just do it … unnoticed … unheralded … no praise … no thank you needed … no name in the bulletin … no mention from the pulpit.

They are the “Emily Gloria Wilson’s” of the world. Their loyalty is unwavering. Their commitment is outstanding. They listen to only one master. They know whom they work for. And may it be said of us that we were faithful servants of the most high God moving the Kingdom ever onward one act at a time.

PRAYER:

We desire to be your servant, Lord, yours and yours alone. Not the churches, not the denominations, not our career, not our country, not even our family … but your servant and in becoming your servant and your servant along, we become the servant of all and to all. 

QUOTE from Max Lucado, God Came Near, page 66:

Reliable Servants. They’re the binding of the Bible. Their acts are rarely recited and their names are seldom mentioned. Yet were it not for their loyal devotion to God, many great events never would have occurred.