PassionateChristian

Having grown up as a missionary kid in the Amazon jungle of Venezuela, I know well how much a church can bless a missionary family by their giving. When churches gave money, we were blessed because our needs for food and clothing were met. The church would feel blessed hearing our grattitude and knowing that they had helped further the gospel in the indian tribes by supplying our needs through Christ. Sometimes, the churches would send small groups of people down to help our. Sometimes they would build small church buildings, sometimes they would build small dispensaries (it is hard to witness to tribal people unless you can provide the medications to bring them through their illnesses.) Regardless of what was given, we always wrote home and told them about the progress of the ministry, people who had been saved, now saved indians who were going out and ministering to other tribes, etc. The churches knew then that they had been a part of this great work, and that without their help, it could not have been done nearly as quickly. Most foreign missionaries cannot work for themselves. Their lives are fully dedicated to furthering the gospel and they rely on others to supply their needs. That is a hard spot to be in, but they do it anyway because they know that God will be with them every step of the way.

I think the biggest difference between servanthood and slavery is that a servant has a choice. They may loose their job in the long run, but they have a choice as to whether they will serve or not. If a slave were to choose not to serve, they would be subject to discipline by their master. The saint is that person who willing chooses to become a servant of Christ Jesus and most often does so because they realize that they are indebted as a slave for the great love shown to them through Jesus Christ, and they have no desire to do anything but serve. These two are the same though in the outcome. Ultimately, whether through a slave or a servant, the master is given the aid he requires. The master's work is finished in both instances and in both cases, a job well done will earn the approval of the master.