The Mind of a Bondservant

The Mind of a Bondservant

“And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:29.

“Servant” [bondservant] in this context does not mean that you occupy a serving position in the world. God is not partial. A bondservant is revealed by his attitude of mind. As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ from a bondservant. Gal. 4:1. The difference is revealed afterwards, when he has grown up. In their ignorance people also call a child “bondservant,” because they cannot differentiate between them. God pours out His Spirit even over male and female bondservants. We are going to examine the bondservant’s attitude of mind a little bit after he has partaken of this blessing.

1. They are not much inclined to do God’s will. They would rather just enjoy their Lord’s blessing; and all their words speak of how much they can delight in His abundance, but they want to do as little as possible for Him. All labor in God’s kingdom seems to be toil and bondage to them, which is understandable because a bondservant does not have the same interests in the house as a son. Jesus says about the sons, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matt. 12:50. They are active in building God’s kingdom on earth—not out of constraint, but because it is their life and food to do their Father’s will. They build faithfully. The bondservant does not like to contribute anything; he only wants to enjoy. This is his freedom, his much vaunted freedom! Free from serving! The son, on the other hand, follows in his elder brother’s steps who served and gave His life. It is a fact that a lazy bondservant has more freedom than a diligent son. In the midst of his freedom the bondservant can call out that the son has become a slave of his Father’s will. But as far as the son is concerned, it is his desire to do his Father’s will; therefore he uses the expression, “Christ’s bondservant,” an honorable title. See Isaiah 44:4-5. Oh, what a life this is—a life of a constantly assured joy that flows from an obedient child’s life! The son increases steadily in strength, wisdom, and knowledge as God entrusts him with more. The bondservant, on the other hand, is engaged in a continual pursuit of joy and power, a power he desires only to waste in sweet abandon, but he does not want to use it in God’s rich field of labor.

2) Who feels that the truth is as hard as the lashes of a whip? The bondservant, of course. He always shouts to the person who proclaims the truth to him that he is striking him. “‘Do not prattle,’ you say to those who prophesy. So they shall not prophesy to you; there will be no end of insults.” Micah 2:6. Rather proclaim only grace—grace and peace, for the truth is like a two-edged sword over my life. It tears down my laziness, my lusts, my proud dreams, my vain plans, my religious ambition; it breaks down my reputed position as a religious authority! Don’t proclaim anything like that; rather cover it all with grace. Then there will not be as many offenses, so much indignation, and so much enmity. Let us rather live in peace and quietness; we like it just the way it is. Let us simply relish the meals of the house! The son does not say that the Spirit’s truth is sharp or strict. He bows under it and acknowledges that what it says is right.

3) The bondservant rejects chastisement. “What son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all [sons] have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” Heb. 12:7-8. Note: illegitimate [sons] not [true] sons! It is amazing that we find them here! Grace chastens us (by means of the truth over our life) to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to lead a chaste and godly life in the present world. Tit. 2:12. This truth with which grace chastens us is called “instructors” and “law” by bondservants; it is something with which they will have nothing to do. But we praise God because grace reigns through righteousness! See Romans 5:21. The person, who loves chastisement, loves knowledge; but the person who hates reproof is stupid. “Take firm hold of chastisement, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” Prov. 12:1; 4:13.

4) Bondservants fight to be leaders. Therefore there is an awful lot of division and quarreling among them. The sons inherit power, power to serve. They do not fight for positions in the church; they inherit their position and are content with what God appoints them to, for they can grow up to the head, Christ, in every place by being faithful.

5) Bondservants are indulgent. They choose bright and comfortable places, their thoughts not going much further than their personal well-being. Sons are born free. They are the ones who wage the battles of the kingdom of God against lies and the deception of Satan. They overcome in the power of the blood of the Lamb and the words of their testimony (these words are not weak and spineless, such as false love presents them); they do not love their lives to the death. See Revelation 12:11.

May God open the eyes of His people, so that they can see and discern this age, for these are times full of dangers and snares.