James, in these few verses, instructs and encourages his Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ, in the face of their difficulties, frustrations, pleasures, motives, and desires, to humble themselves and come near to God, turning their backs on “friendship with the world.” He exhorts them to submit to God in repentance for their sins, to stop slandering each other, and to remember that only God has the right to judge. These are powerful words, indeed, for all those seeking to be “Godly Servants.”

Many studying this lesson will recall those “Godly Servants” who have shared spiritual and humbling wisdom from a life of servanthood and godly love. Let me tell you about two “Godly Servants” who made a difference in my life.

MY “GODLY SERVANTS”
I’m thinking back to the mid-1940s when I was growing up with my siblings in a tenant farm family. We were among many children in the community who were invited and taxied to Bible school by a dear, devoted Christian couple who shared their car and their blessings with us. A small church of Christ nestled in the countryside of southwest Ohio holds the memories of the activities and teachers and early lessons about Jesus and his love.

Likewise, I’ll never forget the picture in my mind of the charred remains of the church building after a fire destroyed it when I was very young. Many willing hearts and hands rebuilt the physical and spiritual structures over the years, long after I had grown up and left.

Flash forward to 1975, when circumstances and godly providence combined to bring my spiritually seeking young family to the entrance of the little church beside the road for a Sunday evening visit. I had not been in the church building since the late 1940s while attending Vacation Bible School.

As I introduced myself and my family to the greeter, I overheard a soft gasp come from within. “Jerry Goodbar! I have been praying for you all these years!”

I strained to see the source of such strange words. And then I made eye contact with a beautiful older couple with warm smiles! My taxi drivers welcomed me home.

Our family spent the next 25 years with that church, teaching and shepherding the flock while rearing four children for Christian service. Now our van, “old Blueberry,” became the taxi to transport many children to and from worship. A Christlike example had been set and prayerfully fueled through the years.

BECOMING “GODLY SERVANTS”
As we reflect on godly love and servanthood we have experienced in the lives of others, we see the necessity to be the same for the generations of the future. Heeding the challenge of James, “Submit yourselves to God,” is the first step in achieving this.

The power of submission knows no boundaries. What blessings can be given and received as one relinquishes the fights and desires of life and asks in earnest prayer to humbly accept grace in the Christian walk!

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* All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.