It’s better to serve than to be served...

Being A Servant

 

John 12:26 ESV / 758 helpful votes

 

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 643 helpful votes

 

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Mark 10:45 ESV / 614 helpful votes

 

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-45 ESV / 482 helpful votes

 

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:16 ESV / 396 helpful votes

 

Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Colossians 3:12 ESV / 373 helpful votes

 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ESV / 330 helpful votes

 

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Matthew 25:21 ESV / 321 helpful votes

 

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Mark 9:35 ESV / 318 helpful votes

 

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 299 helpful votes

 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 293 helpful votes

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matthew 20:26 ESV / 286 helpful votes

 

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

Philippians 2:5-7 ESV / 240 helpful votes

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Matthew 23:11 ESV / 227 helpful votes

 

The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Luke 14:23 ESV / 216 helpful votes

 

And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 215 helpful votes

 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Proverbs 11:25 ESV / 198 helpful votes

 

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Galatians 1:10 ESV / 182 helpful votes

 

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV / 175 helpful votes

 

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

Luke 22:27 ESV / 156 helpful votes

 

For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Philippians 2:5-8 ESV / 155 helpful votes

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV / 148 helpful votes

 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Philippians 2:5 ESV / 141 helpful votes

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

1 Peter 5:5 ESV / 139 helpful votes

 

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Philippians 2:7 ESV / 126 helpful votes

 

But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

John 15:15 ESV / 124 helpful votes

 

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

John 13:12-15 ESV / 122 helpful votes

 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Romans 13:4 ESV / 118 helpful votes

 

For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Matthew 20:28 ESV / 115 helpful votes

 

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 106 helpful votes

 

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Psalm 119:125 ESV / 106 helpful votes

 

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 102 helpful votes

 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Philippians 2:1-30 ESV / 102 helpful votes

 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 97 helpful votes

 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

John 13:12-17 ESV / 97 helpful votes

 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ...

John 4:34 ESV / 96 helpful votes

 

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 95 helpful votes

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 93 helpful votes

 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

John 3:30 ESV / 92 helpful votes

 

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 91 helpful votes

 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Luke 12:41-48 ESV / 91 helpful votes

 

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ...

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 89 helpful votes

 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 13:1-38 ESV / 88 helpful votes

 

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ...

John 13:1 ESV / 88 helpful votes

 

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Romans 1:1 ESV / 87 helpful votes

 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 87 helpful votes

 

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ...

Luke 22:24-30 ESV / 86 helpful votes

 

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, ...

Philippians 2:6-7 ESV / 85 helpful votes

 

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 84 helpful votes

 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Matthew 25:23 ESV / 84 helpful votes

 

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV / 79 helpful votes

 

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Matthew 20:20-28 ESV / 78 helpful votes

 

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ...

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 77 helpful votes

 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Galatians 6:10 ESV / 75 helpful votes

 

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 75 helpful votes

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 12:18 ESV / 75 helpful votes

 

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

John 13:13-17 ESV / 74 helpful votes

 

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

James 4:10 ESV / 73 helpful votes

 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 1:12 ESV / 73 helpful votes

 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Romans 12:3 ESV / 72 helpful votes

 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 6:4 ESV / 71 helpful votes

 

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Luke 6:38 ESV / 71 helpful votes

 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

2 Peter 1:1 ESV / 70 helpful votes

 

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 70 helpful votes

 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Matthew 23:11-12 ESV / 70 helpful votes

 

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Corinthians 3:5 ESV / 69 helpful votes

 

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

John 13:3-5 ESV / 69 helpful votes

 

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV / 68 helpful votes

 

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Philippians 1:4 ESV / 68 helpful votes

 

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Philippians 1:27 ESV / 66 helpful votes

 

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Luke 17:7-10 ESV / 66 helpful votes

 

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Galatians 5:13-15 ESV / 65 helpful votes

 

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Philippians 2:8 ESV / 63 helpful votes

 

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 63 helpful votes

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 63 helpful votes

 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV / 62 helpful votes

 

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV / 61 helpful votes

 

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 60 helpful votes

 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:3-8 ESV / 60 helpful votes

 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ...

Mark 14:3-9 ESV / 60 helpful votes

 

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. ...

Matthew 26:39 ESV / 59 helpful votes

 

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Romans 6:23 ESV / 58 helpful votes

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 18:33-37 ESV / 58 helpful votes

 

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

1 Peter 5:6 ESV / 56 helpful votes

 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Matthew 28:18 ESV / 56 helpful votes

 

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Luke 10:19 ESV / 55 helpful votes

 

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Acts 3:26 ESV / 51 helpful votes

 

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Isaiah 42:1-4 ESV / 49 helpful votes

 

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

John 6:38 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Colossians 2:1-23 ESV / 46 helpful votes

 

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. ...

1 Corinthians 7:22 ESV / 46 helpful votes

 

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

John 17:4 ESV / 45 helpful votes

 

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

John 13:1-17 ESV / 45 helpful votes

 

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ...

Matthew 20:27-28 ESV / 45 helpful votes

 

And whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 24:45 ESV / 43 helpful votes

 

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

Luke 22:42 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

Saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Isaiah 52:13 ESV / 41 helpful votes

 

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 39 helpful votes

 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

John 5:30 ESV / 39 helpful votes

 

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.