9 Signs You Have a Servant’s Heart

I love seeing obedient Christians start ministries, comfort the broken-hearted, guide the lost, and raise generations of believers. I love seeing them love without condition, serve without pay, and act without knowing God’s plan.

They make a difference by serving people and glorifying God in the church, the community, and individual lives.

Their mission? To be like Christ.

Is that your aim, as well?

Here are nine revealing factors to the question, “Do I have a servant’s heart?”

1. You’re Surrounded by People Who Need Your Help

You’re compassionate to a fault. The needs of others weigh heavily on your heart, but you don’t want to burden anyone else.

Sometimes you’re not in the best situation to help, yet you feel their pain very, very deeply.

Matthew 14(:14) shows Jesus extending this same kind of compassion. He had just learned his friend and cousin, John the Baptist, had died, but was more concerned about the crowd following Him. He has compassion on them, heals their sick, and feeds them. To Him, their needs were more important.

2. You Do Unimportant Tasks

You aren’t out there to “change the world.” You do the little things that make up changing the world, like smiling while doing chores, cleaning up after someone else, or holding a door for a stranger.

3. People Say You’re Servant-Hearted

One big hint that you’re a servant is if others say you are.

They might use words like, “You don’t attract attention,” “You’re very Christ-like,” or “You’re so helpful.” The subtext is clear: You put others before yourself.

If nobody’s told you this and you’re genuinely curious whether or not you have a servant’s heart, consider having a light-hearted conversation with a close friend or family member to ask how you can be more servant-hearted.

4. You Don’t Mind Being Backstage

As a servant, you don’t work for the stage. If a friend is talking, you don’t attempt to divert the attention to yourself. You never cut someone off to boast about your achievements. You don’t flaunt yourself for no reason.

5. …But You’re Also Okay with the Spotlight

You’re a leader who has been an active organizer, leader, or encourager in a ministry. You don’t have to be an extrovert to do these things, but you don’t hide in the corner.

Surprisingly, people who shy away from the stage often do so out of pride.

On the other hand, humility drives people to step up to the plate, even if it’s awkward. Humble people use personal attention to point to someone else—Christ.

6. You like Serving

You are likely a servant if you…drumroll, please…like to serve!

If you actively seek ways to put your service into practice by making meals, leading a Sunday School class, cleaning, starting a warm conversation, or organizing a church group, you might have the heart of a servant.

7. You Want To Do More

You don’t define your worth with possessions, but you define it by how the Master thinks of you. You give what you have and want to give more (Luke 7:37–38, 50; Luke 21:1–4).

Not only do you give away your possessions, but you seek to build relationships. You see people as people, and you want to do everything possible to show up for them.

8. It Bothers You When People Live like the World (Including Yourself)

You try your best to love well, but it’s never enough—you snap at a sibling, tell a white lie, scroll social media more than your Bible app—and you wish you weren’t like that (Romans 7:15–20).

You wish you were—dare I say it—perfect.

The perfect sibling, daughter, coworker. The perfect person, the perfect embodiment of Jesus.

But you’re not perfect. You’re not enough.

That’s exactly why we need grace.

We don’t need grace because we get straight A’s in every area of life. We do need grace because we fall short.

As for the people around you, you can’t dictate their actions. You’re also not responsible for them. The best thing you can do is love well, start relationships, lead by example, and pray. Yes, pray. Become a prayer warrior.

You’re part of a fallen and broken world. Don’t let the pressure of imperfections get you down. This is not your home! Try your best, but at the end of the day, it’s about God, not you.

9. You Want to Lead People to Christ

You want to see people come to Christ, but you also have a game plan to bring them to Him. You’re acting on that game plan, showing Jesus in the mundane, participating in His will.

Don’t give up. Being a servant is not for the faint of heart, and you don’t do it for a plastic trophy or social approval.

God’s the one who gives the best rewards—so do it to glorify Him.

Obedience to Christ in a broken world isn’t always easy. You didn’t have to relate to every single one of these to want to glorify God. You, like many other things, are a work in progress.

Today is not the day to give up.

So keep fighting the good fight, and do it all for His glory.