To follow the example of Christ who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28), we must begin with our hearts for everything we do flows from it (Prov. 4:23). Servant teachers need Christ-like motivation.
Jesus’ Motivation as a Servant
Read through the Gospels and you will find a number of circumstances where Jesus saw a need, felt compassion, and then served in a way that met the need (Matt. 14:14; Mk. 6:34; Lk. 7:13-14). He also told a parable about the Good Samaritan, contrasting those whose hearts were consumed with self, status, and stinginess with this one man with a servant heart. Similar to Jesus’ motivation, we read, “when he saw him, he felt compassion and came to him and bandaged up his wounds …” (Lk. 10:30-37).
Servant Teachers Teach for the Right Reasons, with Christ-like Motivation Rooted in Love
As those first and foremost accountable to God for how we serve, we follow His priorities. Jesus identifies the top two greatest commandments as love for God and then love for people (Matt. 22:36-39). He went on to say, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt. 22:40). Hence, there can be no greater motivation than love.
The Bible Teacher’s Role Download considers reasons people might teach but stresses the need for Christ-like motivation. It also suggests some steps to take if you struggle to maintain Christ-like motivation. This resource looks at other aspects of being a servant teacher as well as seven additional roles a Bible teacher might assume to make a lasting impact.