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What We Know About Becoming A Servant Of God
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WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT BECOMING A SERVANT OF GOD
Eileen Renders
In the Old Testament, Abraham, David, Joshua, and Moses are called “servants of God” for their leadership, mediation, and obedience of God’s word. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as “the servant of the Lord” (Mark 10:45) and teaches that he came “to serve, not to be served” (Mark 10:45). Paul and the Apostles refer to themselves as “servants of Christ (Romans 1:1 and Philippians 1:1), emphasizing total dedication to God’s mission.
In the Catholic Church, “Servant of God” (Servus Dei) is the first formal title in the canonization process for a deceased person whose life is under investigation for possible sainthood (spiritualculture.org). It is not a self-assigned honor but a canonical designation given by a bishop with Vatican approval, marking the start of a rigorous process of discerning holiness.
The Catholic Bible describes “servants of God” either living or deceased, as people dedicated to God’s will, marked by faith, obedience, and self-giving love. The term comes from the Old Testament Hebrew (‘ebed) and New Testament Greek (doulos), which can be interpreted as attendant, minister, or slave, yet not necessarily in the sense of forced labor. It is more often a relationship of loyalty and service.
The Catholic Church teaches how to become a Servant of God: The following qualities must be readily seen,
Growing and Maturing in Love – Loving God first, then loving our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39)
Imitating Christ in living as He lived, humble, self-giving, and in serving others.
Humility: Facing God with awe and reverence as this leads us to love and confidence, without fear or resentment.
Trust and Obedience: Using God-given talents faithfully as in serving (Matthew 25:14-30), trusting in God’s guidance and generosity.
Faithfulness, trust, and Daily Commitment to submit our lives to Christ, thereby allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into true “children of God.”
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