Servanthood is a vital key to success in our spiritual lives and in all our activities, responsibilities, and relationships. It forms a major part of our Christian walk. With Christ's perfect example as our standard, we can trust that if God opens a door for us to serve another, we will succeed in fulfilling His will. We do not need to worry about lacking skills, for the Father supplies our weaknesses through the Holy Spirit, as Romans 8:26 assures us. Our role in serving is to maintain an attitude of availability and to be attentive enough to recognize the call to serve when it comes. Many of us hesitate, doubting our abilities or recalling past failures, but this happens when we rely on ourselves instead of trusting God to use us as His vessel. As we practice serving, we grow accustomed to God working through us, gain confidence, and learn to set aside our human nature to allow His way. Knowing that it is God who accomplishes the work, we can humbly direct all praise and credit to Him. We must also accept that we cannot choose the areas in which we serve; God determines our tasks, and there is nothing He calls us to do that we cannot do well when we give our best. A crucial principle is that no matter who benefits from our service or how they respond, it is ultimately God whom we serve. Seeking approval from others indicates we are serving for the wrong reasons and the wrong person. If our emotions dominate, our attitude is misaligned, leading to an emotional roller coaster. We must serve God through commitment, not based on feelings or a need for recognition. Service should carry the same steadfast dedication as tithing, a decision made long ago to follow God's way, carried out consistently. As part of a Christian's growth and God's process of shaping us into His Son's image, we should serve whenever the opportunity arises, doing the will of God from the heart, with sincerity, as to the Lord, and not to men, as Ephesians 6:5-8 instructs.

Jesus Christ, on the night before His death, introduced the act of foot washing during the Passover ceremony to teach His disciples a vital lesson in humility and service. He desired to instill in them an attitude of giving and willingness to serve others at all times, reflecting the mind of God. In Mark 10, when the disciples disputed over who would be the greatest, Christ corrected them, emphasizing that true greatness in His Kingdom comes through service, even to the point of being a slave. In John 13, He demonstrated this by laying aside His garments, taking a towel, and washing the disciples' feet, taking on the role of a servant. This act, typically performed by the lowest servant in a household, represented profound humility, as He lowered Himself to kneel before others, showing that His purpose was to serve all of mankind. Christ's life, from beginning to end, was marked by this spirit of service, and He urged His disciples to live similarly. He knew His time was short, yet He chose to perform this menial task to leave an unforgettable lesson. Foot washing, in that era, was a demeaning act due to the dirty and unpleasant condition of feet from walking on dusty, shared paths. Yet, Christ willingly washed the dirtiest part of His disciples, embodying self-sacrifice and self-denial. True service, as He showed, involves giving up personal time, desires, resources, and energy without expecting conditions or rewards. This act of foot washing is not merely a ritual but a way of life, an everyday attitude of humility and willingness to submit to others. Christ's example teaches that service always involves sacrifice, mirroring His own life of giving, even to the point of laying down His life. If one wishes to be part of God's Kingdom, they must embrace this mindset of serving others, as Christ continues to serve us in spirit.

Service, as a fundamental aspect of human experience, is deeply woven into the fabric of historical and spiritual life. In the context of ancient practices, servitude was regulated under the Old Covenant as a structured relationship rather than outright abolished. God provided laws to ensure fair treatment, such as limiting an Israelite servant's term to six years, after which they could go free without cost. These servants were to be treated more as hired workers, and upon release, masters were instructed to provide them with resources like animals, grain, and wine to support their new life of freedom. This demonstrates a system designed to balance servitude with compassion, reflecting a divine intent to mitigate harshness. Moreover, the choice to remain in service beyond the mandated term was acknowledged. An Israelite servant could opt to stay with a kind and just master out of love and appreciation for the prosperity and care provided. This voluntary commitment was formalized before judges, marking the servant as a permanent part of the household, symbolizing a deep bond of mutual respect and provision. In a spiritual sense, service transforms into a profound act of dedication to God. When called out of a life bound by worldly influences, individuals experience a shift under a new, fairer Master. Like the ancient servant choosing to remain, they voluntarily declare their love for Him, accepting His mark through sacred rites and pledging to serve Him forever with reverence and a pursuit of righteousness. This service, though challenging, is supported by His abundant provision, making the yoke easy and the burden light. He equips His servants with all they need to fulfill their tasks, ensuring they face only what they can handle. Service to God is also described as a reasonable act, a logical response to the immense sacrifice He made for redemption. It involves becoming a living sacrifice, offering time, pride, and personal desires to live as He lived. This extends beyond mere actions to encompass an attitude of humility and sober thinking, recognizing that each person is gifted differently by Him to serve within the collective body. Individuals are urged to use their unique gifts—whether in preaching, teaching, giving, leading, or showing mercy—with diligence and Christian virtues like cheerfulness and liberality, for the benefit of all. Furthermore, service manifests in daily behavior and interactions, grounded in sincere love without hypocrisy. This genuine care for others involves abhorring evil, clinging to good, showing affection, enduring persecution with patience, praying steadfastly, and meeting the needs of others with hospitality. It requires sacrifice, often giving up personal desires to support others, reflecting a life of service that mirrors His own. This extends to living harmoniously, avoiding pride, and refraining from retribution, instead seeking peace and leaving justice to Him. Ultimately, service is an ongoing journey of growth, where fulfilling commanded duties is merely the baseline. As servants of a Great God, there remains much to learn and achieve to become truly profitable in His eyes, yet His guidance ensures completion of this training for a future role in His Kingdom.

Service to God and one another demands resilience, much like the challenges faced by athletes at the highest levels of competition. It requires overcoming fears of inadequacy, embracing discomfort, and boldly committing to use and develop the gifts God has bestowed upon us, regardless of the obstacles. Service and sacrifice are inherently difficult, often clashing with our selfish tendencies that resist discomfort. Yet, serving God's people mirrors the determination needed to face adversity, pushing through personal limitations with mental and spiritual fortitude. God calls us to serve despite our doubts and weaknesses, promising to provide everything necessary if we ask in faith. Even when we feel unqualified or hesitant, God's power ensures we can fulfill His will. Service to God is not a burden to fear or avoid, but an honor, even when it feels like being stuck in challenging roles or situations. We must reject cowardice and embrace the boldness and resilience required to serve, trusting that God equips us with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Ultimately, serving God through caring for His people holds eternal significance. When the Son of Man returns in His glory, He will judge based on our actions toward the least of His brethren—feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned. In doing so, we serve Him directly. Failing to serve in these ways is to fail Him, leading to everlasting punishment, while the righteous who serve inherit eternal life. As children of God, we must strive for this ultimate goal, fighting against the influences of this world with His true strength, endurance, and resilience, moving forward in true service to God's family and our one true King.

Examining Tychicus, the companion and helper of Paul, we see many godly actions and characteristics like eagerness to serve and bringing the comfort of his news to congregations underlying his role of messenger that we should emulate. Ephesians 6: 21-22 shows that he had a larger role than the just delivering the messages; we see that he came to strengthen the hearts of brethren. Even though there are not too many references mentioning him, he had a large impact on the congregations he does visit. The apostle Paul made use of his services that he was eager to assist him building the faraway churches. Those far away locations involved traveling on ships, hostile countries, and navigating different cultures. Even though Tychicus did not have an important title, he exemplified whatever position we are given we should be quickly willing to serve God and the brethren and sometimes go outside our comfort zones to fulfill our calling.