As Christians, we have a calling to live a life of impact on others, and a large part of that consists of learning to serve. Christ Himself exemplified such a life when He was on Earth. Although He was the Son of God, He humbly came among the ordinary people, walking and ministering among them and transforming the lives and situations of many.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia about Life by the Spirit, he reminded them not to indulge in their flesh but to serve one another in love. The apostle Paul called us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ as much as we love ourselves (Galatians 5:13-14). Recently, Pr Caleb Tan of Kuala Lumpur Baptist Church shared a simple and practical message that spoke to the hearts of the young people. The sermon was predicated on the acronym S.L.A.Y (slay), introduced to him by a young church member.
Under traditional terminology, the word ‘slay‘ has a negative connotation. It meant ‘To kill violently’ or the unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by another human being. However, language evolves. An alternative meaning for the word under current slang defines it as ‘To dominate in a particular field‘ or to be one of the greatest in that area. Hence, we sometimes hear sentences about an athlete, for example, ‘He slew the competition’, meaning he outclassed the competition. The acronym S.L.A.Y is a potent encouragement for us to dominate in serving, especially in our attitudes. It stands for having a Servant’s Heart, being Loving, Approachable and adaptable, and placing Yahweh above all.
Pr Caleb shared two characteristics of a Servant’s Heart. To have a servant’s heart is to have a humble heart. The theologian and writer C S Lewis said humility is not thinking less of yourself but of yourself less. Serving God can sometimes end up as an isolative experience. The apostle Paul recognised this. In Romans 12:16, he wrote:
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all.
Are we submitting to the Lord and God of our lives today and serving one another in such a way that we put ourselves humbly under those who have been placed with authority by God? We all belong to a larger structural group, whether our families, churches, workplaces, society, or nation. Submitting with humility to those in authority will help us grow and mature in our faith and character. Like an orchestra where the separate family of instruments comes together in beautiful harmony, the collective whole is larger than the sum of its individual parts.
The second characteristic of a serving heart is that it is free. The world thinks freedom is the ability to do anything it wants but think for a moment. A life of indulgence can lead to addiction, another form of slavery. Freedom in the new life under Christ opens the heart to a loving and serving nature. Galatians 5:1 reminds us that we have been set free and not to be caught up in the yoke of sin again. Genuine liberty comes coupled with love.
The second letter of the acronym, L, stands for Loving. God loves us. The person who truly sees the love of God is drawn to love God and to love all of God’s creatures. However, love can often be very challenging, Pr Caleb expressed. Unless we are free from addiction and sin and humbly position ourselves where we dare to love people, we will not be able to love. Many of us may find it difficult to love because we are afraid of getting hurt in the process. But we have to understand that God loves us. This understanding will give us the courage to love even though there is a chance we will get hurt in the process.
Love is a matter of the heart. This is encapsulated in the Chinese ideogram for ‘love‘ (‘ai‘) which has ‘Heart‘ (‘xin‘) at the center of it. ‘If we are willing to say yes and submit and obey God, love will flow automatically and naturally from it as we interact with people,’ Pr Caleb encouraged.
The whole of human relationships is fulfilled in love. Imagine a life without love, companionship, or relationships with family and friends. Imagine a life not being cared for by anyone or not mattering to anyone else, all by yourself. Imagine a life not having anyone on your mind or your heart. Imagine a life without love. God has given us families, a society we are a part of and a church we belong to. Together, this is how we can practice our heart of being a servant and love one another.
The third letter in the acronym, A, stands for Approachable and Adaptable. Be approachable, open to conversations, discussions, and ideas, and be adaptable, using whatever gifts you have to serve others. Speak the words of God. Serve with the strength God provides. Be good stewards. Whatever God has blessed us with, be adaptable with it. We can use God’s gifts to serve others in many ways.
1 Peter 4: 10-11
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Approachability and adaptability go hand in hand. Today, much of society has become isolative. Let us learn to put away our cell phones, look into our brothers’ and sisters’ eyes, and have more authentic conversations. It is not something really hard for Jesus gave us examples. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus tells us, Even by giving someone a small cup of cold water, we will certainly not lose our reward. ‘You will be surprised how it brings changes into our lives as we serve God together,’ Pr Caleb conveyed.
The fourth letter of the acronym, Y, stands for Yahweh Above All. In all we do, we serve so that God may be glorified in everything through Jesus Christ. We are all called to serve in some way. Even the humblest things we do for others can glorify God. As a ministry front-liner, Pr Caleb shares that everything he does, whether ministering, visiting others, or giving, has to bring glory to God, or else he has failed in his duty. This is a particular danger for those serving on the front lines. Many failed and fell because they focused on the wrong areas. It is the same with all Christians, for unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
As I witness younger Christians serving and sharing, I am highly encouraged by the intentionality of their faith. God’s ways are higher than our traditions. The Church constantly adapts, and the gospel ever advances.
Note: This is an adaptation of a sermon shared by Pr Caleb Tan at Kuala Lumpur Baptist Church on the 30th of July 2023. You may access the full sermon from KLBC’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/live/KmoVxjce21w?feature=shared
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