Improving Your Serve

I'm rereading a great book by Charles Swindoll, Improving Your Serve, The Art of Unselfish Living.
Mr. Swindoll says:
"Three characteristics of becoming a servant.

1. Transparent humanity

2. Genuine humility

tests of humility

1. A nondefensive spirit when confronted. This reveals a willingness to be accountable. Genuine humility operates on a rather simple philosophy: nothing to prove, nothing to lose.

2. An authentic desire to help others. I'm referring to a sensitive, spontaneous awareness of needs. A true servant stays in touch with the struggles others experience. There is that humility of mind that continually looks for ways to serve and to give

3. Absolute honestly. Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it.. as do servants of God. No ulterior motives. No hidden meanings. An absence of hypocrisy, duplicity, political games, and verbal superficiality. As honesty and real integrity characterize our lives, there will be no need to manipulate others. We'll come to the place where all the substitutes will turn us off once we cultivate a taste for the genuine, the real."

It's a challenging read, but one necessary for a church immersed in a "looking out for number one, me" society.