Be a Servant, Never a Slave

Xuefeng

February 6, 2025

A servant is a voluntary and willing helper, whereas a slave is someone forced into labor, suffering hardship under oppression, and losing their dignity in submission.

Why Be a Servant? Because Christ Jesus taught us to be the servant of all. If one wishes to earn the respect of others and become a leader revered by many, one must first become the servant of all. I would like to add two more points: only those with the mindset and state of a servant can be accepted into heaven, and only those with a servant’s awareness can maintain inner peace and physical health.

Why Not Be a Slave? Because a slave is a product of oppression by a dominant force—not the result of a voluntary choice. A servant retains dignity, whereas a slave has none—therefore, one must never become a slave.

Being a servant is a privilege reserved for noble and strong individuals—only the strong can truly serve others. The pitiful and weak do not have the qualification to be servants.

Look at the grass, wildflowers, trees, insects, birds, and animals across the vast mountains and land—who takes care of them? When a gentle drizzle falls, nourishing everything and bringing vitality to all, who sends this life-giving dew to sustain the creatures of the earth? Do you see it? The one tending to all life is the Greatest Creator. Does the Greatest Creator not resemble a loving servant?

Now, look at a shepherd—does the shepherd not resemble a servant? If you have chickens, ducks, pigs, dogs, cattle, or sheep at home, are you not the one taking care of them? Are you not a servant to these small lives?

Do you see? The Greatest Creator is the servant of all living beings in nature. A shepherd is the servant of the sheep. Those who feed pigs, chickens, and sheep are their servants. From this, we understand that being a servant is a function of the strong—it is the role of a leader. The weak cannot be servants.

This also tells us that only the weak require care from others. Only those nearing death need servants to look after them—for example, the elderly in nursing homes or patients in hospital beds.

Anyone who is not psychologically strong can never truly be a servant.

A true servant serves only truth, kindness, beauty, love, faith, and sincerity—never falsehood, wickedness, ugliness, hatred, doubt, or deceit. In the presence of someone stronger, a true servant does not submit, nor does a true servant serve power and authority.

Only those who give and dedicate themselves selflessly and willingly can be called servants—those who operate on a mere transactional basis are not true servants.

Only the humble can be called servants—the arrogant can never be true servants.

Only the strong, who compassionately care for the weak, can be servants—the weak can never be true servants.

Only those who treat others as equals can be servants—those who flatter, grovel, bow and scrape, or curry favor can never be servants; such people can only be slaves.

I am willing to be your servant, but if you fail to show me respect, pick apart every detail, boss others around, and remain ungrateful—well, to hell with it! I quit!

The above explanation is the true meaning of Christ Jesus’ teaching to be the servant of all.