“one who gives himself up to
another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing
his cause among men.”
Or
“Devoted
to another to the disregard of one's own interests.”
This word is translated as servant in scripture
because the modern understanding of slave has been colored by the use of racial
slavery in the beginning of this great nation. Racial slavery is a great evil
we all should oppose. It has nothing to do with “giving up one’s self” or “devoting
to another”. It is all about a stronger will devouring a weaker will. There is
nothing good about devouring, even when it is about a plate of barbeque ribs. Nothing
should ever be devoured.
But slavery in and of itself is not a bad thing.
There are different kinds of slavery and they all have a place in this world.
When I was in the military I was an indentured
servant. An indentured servant is one who signs a contract, also known as an
indenture or covenant, in which they agree to work for a certain amount of time
in exchange for something. I swore an oath to serve no less than eight years in
exchange for the benefits I received. The collateral for this oath was my life,
which I could be ordered to give up if it were required. I was no longer my
own. I was G.I. – Government Issue. I could be punished for something as simple
as getting a tattoo because it was considered defacing government property.
Indentured servants were common in the time of
Jesus. It was a noble profession. Indentured servants were often well taken
care of and some of them were paid enough that they could afford to have their
own slaves. Another form of indentured servant are those who have sold
themselves into slavery to pay off a debit they have incurred.
I am doulos, in the sense of both definitions above.
My life is not my own but of the one who lives in me. At my baptism I invited
Jesus into my life. God adopted me as his child. Each time I receive the
Eucharist I recommit myself to Jesus. I take the body, blood, soul, and
divinity of Jesus into myself. I ask him to live and dwell within me and to
make the light of his love push out all darkness within me. I give myself up to
his will for his service in bringing him to those in darkness and to bring
those in darkness closer to him. Your will, not mine, be done. Although I am
imperfect and fail at this task it is what I desire and the goal I try to live
to each and every day.
I am also doulos because I have devoted myself to
another to the disregard of my own interest.
This should be obvious. I am a husband and a father. My life is not mine
to live as I will because it was given up for the welfare of my wife. My main
purpose in this life is to get her into heaven. When I became a father that
extended to my children as well. Everything I do should be directed to this
end, even if that means I do not make it with them. I often think of a scene
from The Avengers. Ironman saves New
York City by guiding a nuclear missile into space. He cannot go with it and ultimately
falls back to earth, seemingly to his death. If my family were that missile and
space were heaven I will have fulfilled my purpose if I guide them there, even
if I don’t make it with them. One of my prayers before receiving the Eucharist
is that God allow me to bare the punishment for the sins of my family so they
can enter into his Kingdom at the end of their time on earth. If that means
they make it to heaven and I don’t I am ok with that. What loving person wouldn’t
take on to themselves the suffering of a spouse or child if they had the
ability to do so? That is what it means to be devoted to another to the
disregard of one’s own interests. It is what I would do for them and it is what
Jesus did for me.
It is also what he did for you.
Are you doulos?
