The word ‘servant’ is ‘doulos’, meaning ‘bondslave’. Exodus 21:2 sheds light on what this means: In Israel, a slave was required to serve only six years before he was set free. If, however, at the end of six years, he said, ‘I like it here. I want to become a bondslave,’ the master would drive a nail through his right earlobe and place an earring in it, signifying he was a doulos, a slave by choice.

It’s a wise decision to give yourself fully to the Lord as His bondslave because He takes excellent care of those committed to Him. Their lives are filled with purpose and focus; their hearts with peace and joy.

Perhaps you're saying, ‘I’m my own man — captain of my destiny, master of my fate. I don’t serve anyone.’ But reality says otherwise. Everyone will serve someone. Bob Dylan was right: ‘It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.’ And Paul made a wise decision indeed when he chose to serve the Lord.