"with goodwill serve as to the Lord and not to men,"1
We often here the phrase serve as to the Lord but notice it says, "with goodwill serve" as to the Lord. There is a difference, one says that the goodwill is the end point of serving, i.e. its all about reaching the lost or serving the needy. The other says you serve with goodwill. In one thinking, a servants heart is reflected in being able to take mistreatment as one serves for the end result and if one gets hurt in the process it is a sacrifice for the benefit of the end result. Such sounds good. The other says you are accountable for how you serve. This word for goodwill is eunoia, good-will, kindness (from eu, "well" and noeó, "I understand, consider" properly to be well- minded, i.e. reconcile. Goodwill is a mindset of goodwill, reconciliation, as we serve, which encompasses everyone, not just the end result.
The word for goodwill is derived from nous, "reasoning faculty of the mind." Such thinking comes from being "transformed by the renewing of your mind (reasoning faculty of the mind)" With a new mindset of good will toward men I serve as to Christ. Goodwill is a way of living. Goodwill to others is a ministry of reconciliation, of kindness towards others with the end results of reconciliation, the work Christ taking fruit in the hearts of men. This is being a light to men, a Light of goodwill that points to Christ. Such speaks to the Golden Rule of Christianity, and how the world will know we are disciples of Christ, by how we treat each other. I can say I have goodwill while I run you over in the process but such is a mindset that is characteristic of the world, who seek selfish acts for the glory of men.
Those who seek a higher glory of God have a mindset of goodwill, selfless acts of love which glorify God. Goodwill is a mindset of how we think towards one another, it is benevolence, it reinforces the Golden Rule, and is an action of "truth" which portrays fruit of the Spirit, agape love. It underlines the moral culpability (responsibility and accountability) we all have before God – for every decision (value-judgment) we make towards others. Goodwill is possessing the inherent capacity by the Lord to exercise moral reasoning, specifically a mindset of Christ, goodwill towards men.
"No servant is able to serve two masters..."3
This word for doing "service" is douleuó, "a servant, a slave, having all personal ownership-rights assigned to the owner." There are positive and negative meanings to this word, it is important to understand such. Christ has ownership rights of each believer, there is no other master. This country being motivated by "goodwill" fought hard to break the chains of oppression and tyranny, of slavery, many honorable men died for such. They were devoted to justice and freedom, to selfless love, such would lay down a life for another. Without love, our good will is nothing, without faith it is not pleasing to the Lord.
"No one is able to serve two masters, indeed, either the one he will hate and the other he will love or one he will be devoted to one and the other he will despise, not you are able to serve God and money."4
Paul, writes we are given a Spirit of Adoption whereby we are no longer slaves but children of God. "One master" We are to be slaves to righteousness, servants of Christ, whereby He is our Master, Lord, Teacher, Rabbi... there is no question in the new covenant who has such authority and to whom we are to honor and revere above man. Jesus said of the people they did not believe because they honored men over God. A child of God, a slave to righteousness, when authority is in question, will choose to honor God above men. Children of God throw off the shackles of bondage in any form, as we are called to Freedom, not to again return to slavery in any form.
Authority which displays wrath is as a child who doesn't honor his father, such dishonors God. If slavery did exist, a threatening slave master is as a slave who is disobedient, as if it is to Christ. You see? obedience in the kingdom of God is two-fold. As Peter writes the shepherd flows down through humility, of free will, not lording over... it is by example. The husband doesn't lord over the wife, authority in marriage is two-fold, both who are in submission to Christ submit to one another. It is this submission to Christ that a wife can reconcile a husband.
A hierarchical structure is a top down organizational structure where principles flow down into the organization. Such a structure can be said to be an earthly acceptance of a "kingship" whereby men rejected God and wanted a king, such was allowed by God. In such a structure shepherds, pastors flow down the principles of God to the sheep or flock. It can be seen as serving down the righteousness of God to others; with goodwill serve as to the Lord. In such structure God uses goodwill as a ministry of the reconciliation of men to God. Such authority is not to serve down wrath nor is it to be threatening.
The Pharisees flowed down wrath, their authority to do so is debatable, their name means "teachers of the law" which reflects the authority they had over the people, obey the law or die! Jesus said of them, they put heavy burdens on the shoulders of people and do not lift a finger to help. While living among the Persian people scribes wrote down on scrolls what we have come to know as the Old Testament. The Persian Empire conquered Babylon who had destroyed the temple and eradicated the kingship and priestly authority. The Pharisees are said to have acquired authority from this line of scribes. Jesus said they were hireling shepherds, who loved the glory of men above God. They served down wrath and threats to the people. Jesus said of them, they sit in the seat of Moses dispensing God's law and passing judgment on the people.
The Pharisee failed to serve with goodwill as to God, as they were devoted to themselves, seeking their own glory. Such was hidden under the premises of serving God. But a man can't have two masters, He will be devoted to one and despise the other. This word for devoted is (from antí, "corresponding to" and éxō, "have") this word particularly suggests, "to stick by one's rights." Such speaks of the price Christ paid for ownership rights, that we are empowered to become children of God. It also speaks to the fact we are called to Freedom, certain inalienable rights as children of God. Not only do we have dominion over sin and slavery to the flesh, but also Freedom from principles and doctrines of men that seek to oppress. Being devoted to the Lord speaks to the right of son-ship, no longer slaves.
We are to be girded in truth, by such strongholds are demolished. Such strongholds in the church were for slavery in the past. We are to be devoted to truth, "to stick by one's rights." Doctrines and traditions of men create strongholds which produce slaves to men, not God. Paul writes, such are doctrines of demons, stumbling blocks to the truth, they enslave and do not bring liberty in Christ, and they come especially from those of the "circumcision party." "There are indeed, many also, insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision."5 We are not to be devoted to teachings of men but to be "devoted according to the doctrine, of faithful word, that he might be able both to encourage with sound teaching, and those contradicting to convict."7 Devoted to the doctrine, of faithful word.
There is a mindset that creates slaves to organizations, not to righteousness. Such is exhibited in the Pharisee who sought the glory of men over God. The statistics in the church speak to an issue, to Christ being not truly Master or to doctrines that do not set men free. Leaders have a higher accountability to God for such teaching. The current mindset in the church is opposite of what the scriptures speak of, regarding service. This "serving as to the Lord" is to flow up, serving Christ is to serve others "with goodwill." To be First in the Kingdom means to be last, as James would say it is exalting the poor, the weak, it is not a survival of the fittest. As Jesus said, as you do to the least of these, you do also to Him.
Many use scriptures to justify slavery, segregation, and hatred toward other men. Such is a form of pride, exaltation, a master over another, a lording over, such is done by evil men, and such in the past was justified by men of the cloth. Such dishonors the authority given Christ. The only equivalent analogy we have today of the scriptures speaking of bond-servants and slaves would be those who have given up their rights and are imprisoned. But even to these Christ says with goodwill serve as if you are "doing service" to Him.
We often here the phrase serve as to the Lord but notice it says, "with goodwill serve" as to the Lord. There is a difference, one says that the goodwill is the end point of serving, i.e. its all about reaching the lost or serving the needy. The other says you serve with goodwill. In one thinking, a servants heart is reflected in being able to take mistreatment as one serves for the end result and if one gets hurt in the process it is a sacrifice for the benefit of the end result. Such sounds good. The other says you are accountable for how you serve. This word for goodwill is eunoia, good-will, kindness (from eu, "well" and noeó, "I understand, consider" properly to be well- minded, i.e. reconcile. Goodwill is a mindset of goodwill, reconciliation, as we serve, which encompasses everyone, not just the end result.
The word for goodwill is derived from nous, "reasoning faculty of the mind." Such thinking comes from being "transformed by the renewing of your mind (reasoning faculty of the mind)" With a new mindset of good will toward men I serve as to Christ. Goodwill is a way of living. Goodwill to others is a ministry of reconciliation, of kindness towards others with the end results of reconciliation, the work Christ taking fruit in the hearts of men. This is being a light to men, a Light of goodwill that points to Christ. Such speaks to the Golden Rule of Christianity, and how the world will know we are disciples of Christ, by how we treat each other. I can say I have goodwill while I run you over in the process but such is a mindset that is characteristic of the world, who seek selfish acts for the glory of men.
Those who seek a higher glory of God have a mindset of goodwill, selfless acts of love which glorify God. Goodwill is a mindset of how we think towards one another, it is benevolence, it reinforces the Golden Rule, and is an action of "truth" which portrays fruit of the Spirit, agape love. It underlines the moral culpability (responsibility and accountability) we all have before God – for every decision (value-judgment) we make towards others. Goodwill is possessing the inherent capacity by the Lord to exercise moral reasoning, specifically a mindset of Christ, goodwill towards men.
"No servant is able to serve two masters..."3
This word for doing "service" is douleuó, "a servant, a slave, having all personal ownership-rights assigned to the owner." There are positive and negative meanings to this word, it is important to understand such. Christ has ownership rights of each believer, there is no other master. This country being motivated by "goodwill" fought hard to break the chains of oppression and tyranny, of slavery, many honorable men died for such. They were devoted to justice and freedom, to selfless love, such would lay down a life for another. Without love, our good will is nothing, without faith it is not pleasing to the Lord.
"No one is able to serve two masters, indeed, either the one he will hate and the other he will love or one he will be devoted to one and the other he will despise, not you are able to serve God and money."4
Paul, writes we are given a Spirit of Adoption whereby we are no longer slaves but children of God. "One master" We are to be slaves to righteousness, servants of Christ, whereby He is our Master, Lord, Teacher, Rabbi... there is no question in the new covenant who has such authority and to whom we are to honor and revere above man. Jesus said of the people they did not believe because they honored men over God. A child of God, a slave to righteousness, when authority is in question, will choose to honor God above men. Children of God throw off the shackles of bondage in any form, as we are called to Freedom, not to again return to slavery in any form.
Authority which displays wrath is as a child who doesn't honor his father, such dishonors God. If slavery did exist, a threatening slave master is as a slave who is disobedient, as if it is to Christ. You see? obedience in the kingdom of God is two-fold. As Peter writes the shepherd flows down through humility, of free will, not lording over... it is by example. The husband doesn't lord over the wife, authority in marriage is two-fold, both who are in submission to Christ submit to one another. It is this submission to Christ that a wife can reconcile a husband.
A hierarchical structure is a top down organizational structure where principles flow down into the organization. Such a structure can be said to be an earthly acceptance of a "kingship" whereby men rejected God and wanted a king, such was allowed by God. In such a structure shepherds, pastors flow down the principles of God to the sheep or flock. It can be seen as serving down the righteousness of God to others; with goodwill serve as to the Lord. In such structure God uses goodwill as a ministry of the reconciliation of men to God. Such authority is not to serve down wrath nor is it to be threatening.
The Pharisees flowed down wrath, their authority to do so is debatable, their name means "teachers of the law" which reflects the authority they had over the people, obey the law or die! Jesus said of them, they put heavy burdens on the shoulders of people and do not lift a finger to help. While living among the Persian people scribes wrote down on scrolls what we have come to know as the Old Testament. The Persian Empire conquered Babylon who had destroyed the temple and eradicated the kingship and priestly authority. The Pharisees are said to have acquired authority from this line of scribes. Jesus said they were hireling shepherds, who loved the glory of men above God. They served down wrath and threats to the people. Jesus said of them, they sit in the seat of Moses dispensing God's law and passing judgment on the people.
The Pharisee failed to serve with goodwill as to God, as they were devoted to themselves, seeking their own glory. Such was hidden under the premises of serving God. But a man can't have two masters, He will be devoted to one and despise the other. This word for devoted is (from antí, "corresponding to" and éxō, "have") this word particularly suggests, "to stick by one's rights." Such speaks of the price Christ paid for ownership rights, that we are empowered to become children of God. It also speaks to the fact we are called to Freedom, certain inalienable rights as children of God. Not only do we have dominion over sin and slavery to the flesh, but also Freedom from principles and doctrines of men that seek to oppress. Being devoted to the Lord speaks to the right of son-ship, no longer slaves.
We are to be girded in truth, by such strongholds are demolished. Such strongholds in the church were for slavery in the past. We are to be devoted to truth, "to stick by one's rights." Doctrines and traditions of men create strongholds which produce slaves to men, not God. Paul writes, such are doctrines of demons, stumbling blocks to the truth, they enslave and do not bring liberty in Christ, and they come especially from those of the "circumcision party." "There are indeed, many also, insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision."5 We are not to be devoted to teachings of men but to be "devoted according to the doctrine, of faithful word, that he might be able both to encourage with sound teaching, and those contradicting to convict."7 Devoted to the doctrine, of faithful word.
There is a mindset that creates slaves to organizations, not to righteousness. Such is exhibited in the Pharisee who sought the glory of men over God. The statistics in the church speak to an issue, to Christ being not truly Master or to doctrines that do not set men free. Leaders have a higher accountability to God for such teaching. The current mindset in the church is opposite of what the scriptures speak of, regarding service. This "serving as to the Lord" is to flow up, serving Christ is to serve others "with goodwill." To be First in the Kingdom means to be last, as James would say it is exalting the poor, the weak, it is not a survival of the fittest. As Jesus said, as you do to the least of these, you do also to Him.
Many use scriptures to justify slavery, segregation, and hatred toward other men. Such is a form of pride, exaltation, a master over another, a lording over, such is done by evil men, and such in the past was justified by men of the cloth. Such dishonors the authority given Christ. The only equivalent analogy we have today of the scriptures speaking of bond-servants and slaves would be those who have given up their rights and are imprisoned. But even to these Christ says with goodwill serve as if you are "doing service" to Him.