But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV)

These verses call us sons, not servants. However, the Bible calls us to be servants who serve. How can this be? Is it a contradiction? No it is not. The Bible bears out that we are sons that serve. Sons speaks of our relationship to the Father. Servants speaks of what we called to do.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, II Timothy 2:24 (KJV)

In both of these Scripture examples we see the same Greek word used for servant: doulos. The meaning of doulos is:

1. One whose will is subject to another.

2. The focus was on the relationship, not the service.

3. One who gives himself up to the will of another.

4. It is the most common word for servant in the New Testament that does not contain any idea of bondage.

The more we surrender our will to do God’s will, we become sons who serve. And as we do so, the freer we become.

Jesus Christ was the Son of God Who came to be a servant and to serve others. Jesus gave up His will and rights in order to do what His heavenly Father wanted. (Luke 22:27, 42; Matthew 20:28)

The Apostle Paul was a son of God who said he became a bond slave. He was previously a slave to the devil, but became a bond slave to the Lord. A bond servant is one who chooses of his own free will to remain a servant to His master. Paul gave up his rights to serve God and others. (Romans 1:1, I Corinthians 9:19)

We are sons who serve God and other people, just as Jesus and the Apostle Paul did. This is our call as believers. (Ephesians 6:6, II Timothy 2:24). There were many in the New Testament who were sons of God but called themselves servants, such as Paul (Romans 1:1), James (James 1:1), Peter (II Peter 1:1), Jude (Jude 1:1), John (Revelation 1:1). We would do well to follow their example.

Yes, we are sons of God, children of the Most High, yet we are to serve God and our fellow man. When we understand our position as sons, we can more readily surrender ourselves to the will of our Father and act as servants.

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant, Matthew 20:27 (KJV)