In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. We can emulate this servant’s example as we serve God.

The Presence of God

The first mark of a faithful servant is that they have the presence of God. In verse 7, we see that God will send His angel before the servant. The servant is promised that the Lord will be with him on his mission.

When the servant reaches his destination, he prays, asking God for a very specific sign. Before he has even finished speaking, God demonstrates His presence and provision by sending Rebekah immediately to the well.

Jesus promises in Matthew 28:19–20 that He is with us as we carry out His mission. This changes everything! We need someone who is experienced and wise to show us the way, and this is exactly what Christ does when we let Him. So speak boldly as you proclaim the Gospel! Trust that God will work through your words.

God’s Good Is Our Good

When the servant praises God for His provision in verse 27, notice that he’s actually not focused on himself but on his master, Abraham. He is overjoyed that God has been faithful to Abraham. This is a second mark of a faithful servant: They are most concerned with their master’s good.

We believe that the good of our Master is our good. God’s glory is His good, so God’s glory is also our good. In Philippians 1:20–21, Paul believes this truth when he says that it doesn’t matter whether he lives or dies; he’ll joyfully accept whatever desires God has for him. Look to God; He’s all that matters. True satisfaction is found not in pleasing yourself but in having a God-oriented life.

Eager Obedience

Although the servant must have been hungry, in verse 33 he refuses to eat until he has explained his mission to Rebekah’s family. He controls his desires, determined to do his master’s will before anything else. This eager obedience is a third mark of a faithful servant.

Again, in verse 56, he asks not to be delayed on his journey home with Rebekah. He is obsessed with his master’s command and wants to follow through.

Since we know that God is with us and that God’s glory is our good, we eagerly obey. One practical way to eagerly obey is to consider what you’re prioritizing above God’s mission and take a step to put Him first. Another practical way is to start in the small things. Big things like planting churches are wonderful, but how can you be faithful in the mundane things of daily life today?