Some time ago, a good friend of mine told me that he stayed awake one night wondering whether he was truly a servant of Jesus Christ—or simply a hireling.
What an interesting thought! Have you ever wondered about your own status? Do you even know the difference between a servant and a hireling?
Strange as it may seem, quite a few people in God's Church today—despite their good intentions—often think and act as though they were only hirelings. Why? What makes them— without realizing it—be what they do not want to be?
The answer is obvious. They have not fully grasped the purpose of their calling. Have you? Do you believe that your own salvation is the only reason God called you into His Church? If so, you are bound to think and act like a hireling.
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
Think of it. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Jesus did that! Take the time to meditate on these words—seriously. Ask yourself, in all honesty, if this is the way you feel toward your brethren or toward the people in the world. Would you die for someone else—even a stranger?
"But this verse only applies to the ministers, not to the lay members," you may argue. "It's the shepherd who is supposed to lay down his life for the sheep."
That is the reasoning of a hireling! We have all been called to serve. Ministers, like lay members, are servants—each according to his ability and the job he has been given.
A good shepherd is a good servant. He loves his sheep, and will die for them if need be. This principle applies to every last one of us in God's Church. One way or the other, we are all shepherds when it comes to serving in love and fulfilling our responsibilities.
"But a hireling," added Christ, "he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them" (v. 12).
What is the reason? Why does a hireling flee when he sees danger? Why does he forsake the sheep? "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep," explained Christ (v. 13).
The Parable of the Vineyard
Whether we act like hirelings or servants in God's Church, we still are laborers. Collectively, we have been commissioned to do a job—a very important one. But hirelings do not have the same incentive, nor do they work the way good servants do.
The parable of the vineyard helps us to better understand this truth. Christ began the parable, saying to His disciples: "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1–2). As we know, that denarius in Christ's parable symbolizes His gift of eternal life.
A few hours later, he saw other men who were standing idle, and he also ordered them to go to his vineyard. He did not disclose their wages. He simply promised he would give them whatever was right.
About noontime, he found more laborers who were idle and gave them the same instructions. Finally, about an hour before quitting time, he saw another group of laborers standing idle, "and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive'" (vv. 6–7).
All these laborers were hired for a certain job, and were promised a fair remuneration for their efforts. When the later laborers came, the first thought they would receive more; but all received the same denarius. On receiving it, the first laborers grumbled at the householder, "'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day'" (v. 12).
It was not a question of anyone deserving more, because the ones hired at the beginning of the day did receive what was agreed upon between them and the householder. It was primarily a matter of what they considered justice—from their own point of view.
Christ then described the response to this perception of injustice: "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?" (vv. 13–15).
What an important lesson for all of us to learn—and to remember!
According to Ability
You had no way of choosing your family, your country or your environment at birth. In some ways, you may think you were under a certain handicap in life, as far as your starting line is concerned. That is quite possible.
Nevertheless, what really counts is the final destination— the arriving point, the ultimate goal. As children grow up, they are able to choose their friends, their careers, the directions they want to give their lives.
They can even choose the god they are going to worship. Consequently, even though you may have been under a certain handicap before you were called, you now have the same opportunity as anyone else to reach the ultimate goal: the Kingdom of God.
God is always just—always right. He has given each of us the means to succeed. He never expects more than we are able to give. This is the principle Christ underlined when He compared Himself to a "man going on a journey." He called his servants "and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents; to another two; to another one, to each according to his ability"
In the same manner, today, some of us in God's Church have received five talents, some two, some only one—each according to his ability. And God reveals that to whom much is given, much is required.
Suppose you were blessed with five talents, while someone else, a friend of yours, only received two. When the time of judgment comes, would you ask God: "Why do you reward this man with as much as you give me? I have multiplied five times my talents, whereas he has multiplied his but twice. Don't I deserve more than he does?"
Remember: That is the way a hireling would reason. In truth both of you did equally as well with the talents you received. Both of you doubled what you had. You must constantly endeavor to do your utmost, whatever your task, and even do more than is expected of you. However, this does not mean that God expects us to go beyond our ability.
Christ said: "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do'" (Luke 17:10).
A hireling will not work if there is no reward or pay. His philosophy is: no pay, no work. A good servant is interested in doing the work—not in being paid. That is the basic difference. He expects to do more than is required of him, regardless of what his pay or his reward may be.
Can you now see that it takes real conversion to be a good servant? You must bear the "fruit of the Spirit"— love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. You will have to give the best of yourself, to always be willing and ready to sacrifice for someone else's good.
The Disciples Did Not Understand
Do you realize that even the apostles did not understand the difference between a servant and a hireling until they received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? Before that time, they sometimes acted like hirelings. Notice: "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' They said to Him, 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory'" (Mark 10:35–37).
Can you imagine that? A few hours before the arrest of Jesus Christ—at the time of sorrow and deep concern—the primary thought in the minds of some of the apostles was how great a place they would occupy in the Kingdom of God.
Is this the way some of us reason today?
But Christ said to them: "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant" (vv. 42–43).
And Christ added, "whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all" (v. 44).
Does God Owe You Anything?
Do you remember the circumstances that led you into God's Church? How did you first hear the truth? What was your reaction? Did you decide to become involved in the Church because you simply wanted to be saved? Was that the price you set for answering the call? Did you think—or perhaps still do—that God owes you something?
Consider for a moment Simon Peter's reaction and attitude when Christ called him to be His disciple. Peter fell down on his knees, and said to Him, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8).
Is this the way you felt? Is it really? Simon Peter realized how unworthy he was and how little he deserved to be called to serve God. "Look, I am a simple man," he must have said. "Don't come to me. I can't handle the task you have in mind for me. I am nothing."
Regrettably, we did not all come into God's Church with this type of an attitude. Some have never reached this point. How would you have reacted if Christ had personally said to you, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58)? Would you have said, "I will follow You wherever you go" (v. 57)?
Or would that have been the parting point as far as you were concerned? Would such a calling have appealed to you? Not if you had primarily wanted to be a hireling—to be paid for whatever services you would render. That leads to an attitude, "I will follow you but, first of all, what's in it for me? How much do I get?"
To another, Christ said, "'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God'" (vv. 59–60).
The man did not get the point, because he himself was spiritually dead. On his list of priorities, the physical things came before the spiritual ones.
"And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house'" (v. 61). In other words, this person wanted to first live it up, perhaps cry a little over what he was leaving behind—regret the good times he could have had. He thought the sacrifice required was too great a price to pay.
Do you reason like this? Do you put off your true conversion until you have tried everything else in life and have had all the fun you want? What assurance do you have that you will be kept alive in the meantime?
Procrastination is tantamount to failure. On your list of priorities, God must always come first, whatever the circumstances. This is another important key that helps you determine whether you are a servant or just a hireling.
Counting the Cost
Persecution and sufferings are part of our calling. They help us to trust God even more. As Paul said, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
When God called you to repentance, did you actually take time to count the cost before burying your sins and your carnal nature in the baptismal waters? Did you really count the cost—rather than the return?
Christ said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
This is the engagement we made—or should have made—at the time of our baptism. Did you? Take time and think. Did you count the cost to see whether you had enough to finish the job—not just to start it?
Did you say to yourself: "Someday I may have to lose my family, my friends, my job—and even my life. Whatever the cost, I will continue serving Christ in order to be His servant and His friend. I will always follow Him and rely on Him."
As the Apostle Paul wrote, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us; he reminded us that "you are not your own… For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body…" (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
A hireling would never glorify God in his body. He does not know how, nor does he understand the meaning of the word. But the servant does. He knows that to glorify God is to obey, love and serve Him—and to love and serve his fellow man. If you are a servant of Jesus Christ, your life is no longer yours. You are His slave. You were bought with the price of His blood.
Could there be anything more rewarding for you than to have the opportunity to serve in God's Kingdom? Christ compared the Kingdom to a "treasure hidden in a field, which a man found… for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13:44).
And again, it is like "a merchant… who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (vv. 45–46).
Hirelings do not understand the depth of this teaching; servants do.
At one time or another, have you had doubts about your own conversion? You may even have some questions about it at the present. Perhaps you would like to find someone—preferably a minister— to assure you that your conversion is real and that your baptism is truly valid.
You yourself can find the assurance you are seeking if you carefully examine your heart. Ask yourself: "Am I in the Church to serve or to be served? Have I been called to be saved or to help others gain eternal life?"
By your own answer, you will be able to determine the degree of your conversion.
A Progressive Relationship
"This is My commandment," Christ said, "that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:12–13).
Then He added: "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (vv. 14–15).
Notice the progressive steps in your relationship with God! First you are a slave, a servant, then a friend—and then, as you grow in grace and knowledge—a glorified son at the time of the resurrection of the dead. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15, NIV).
Before you first heard the truth, your mind was totally carnal. You reasoned and acted in a selfish way. You answered the call like a hireling, whose main purpose and interest is to receive something in return— to be rewarded for serving. That is understandable.
However, you buried that carnal nature at the time of your baptism. You turned away from your sinful and selfish ways in order to become more like Jesus Christ, who did not seek any personal reward for serving. His whole purpose for becoming a mortal human being was to help us become sons of the living God.
This change in your attitude and reasoning is the proof of your true conversion. It also enables you to understand that when we cry out, "Abba, Father," God's Spirit bears witness "that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs" (vv. 15–17).
God says that if we keep practicing sin, we become slaves to sin. And slaves to sin do not "abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever" (John 8:35). If we are slaves of Jesus Christ, we are sons of God.
What is your choice—a slave to Christ or a slave to sin? A good servant or a hireling? It is time to make up your mind!