Zambia Hunt

The concept of servanthood is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, permeating both the Old and New Testaments. From the very beginning, God identified His followers as “servants” (Genesis 26:24, Job 1:8), and those who walked with Him embraced this term as a symbol of submission and humility (Exodus 4:10, 1 Samuel 3:10).

Israel, delivered from slavery in Egypt, was called to become the servants of God (Leviticus 25:55, Deuteronomy 10:12). Rebellion against this calling would result in punishment – being sold into slavery to pagan nations (Deuteronomy 28:47-48). The essence of their relationship with God was one of service and obedience.

The ultimate example of servanthood, however, is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He explicitly stated that He came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). The New Testament refers to Him as the “Servant” (Acts 3:26, 4:27, 30; Romans 15:8), and in His incarnation, He laid aside His rights and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:1-11).

Christ’s life was a living demonstration of servanthood, and He commanded His disciples to follow His example (John 13:13-16). The apostles, in turn, embraced this identity, referring to themselves as “servants” or “bondservants” of Christ (Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Colossians 4:12, 2 Peter 1:1, James 1:1, Jude 1).

The New Testament presents servanthood as a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. It is a posture of humility, obedience, and selflessness rooted in our relationship with Christ as our Master. Like Paul, we are called to make ourselves servants of all, laying aside our rights and preferences for the sake of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

Servanthood is not merely a role we play occasionally; it is the very essence of who we are as followers of Christ. It is a lifelong pursuit of greatness defined not by status or position but by our willingness to serve others (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:43-45).

As we seek to develop servants at Central Africa Baptist University, our goal is to instill this biblical understanding of servanthood in our students. We want them to embrace the servant’s heart, submitting themselves to God, His Word, and the authorities He has placed in their lives. Like Christ, they must be willing to lay aside their rights and preferences, becoming servants of all for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. 

The primary emphasis of biblical servanthood is the master-servant relationship!  It is from this relationship that our attitudes and activities flow. The critical question is: Are our students submitted to God, His word, and all God-given authorities in their lives?

Ultimately, true greatness in the kingdom of God is found when we embrace servanthood. As we follow Christ’s example and the exhortations of Scripture, may we become a community of servants dedicated to advancing the Great Commission across Africa through lives of selfless service.

“Be Great, Serve!”