Servant
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mathew 20:25-28)
When we honestly ponder Jesus’ lesson above, it becomes clear that believers and the church have lost their way. This seems like a pretty harsh statement, but if you pause and reflect for a moment it isn’t difficult to recognize that today’s fast paced society leaves little room for charity and thoughtfulness. The selfishness that Jesus encouraged his disciples to turn away from is not only alive and well but literally expanding exponentially to new heights every year. Technology through things like the internet, telephone, TV and transportation have made instant gratification the world’s bread of life. Understand that we remain engaged in spiritual warfare, and while the evil one does not win the war he certainly is winning this particular battle in most of our lives.
As Christians, we are reluctant to accept this truth, but understand that most members of a church aren’t even eager to participate in an annual foot washing ceremony, and those who do tend to feel that they’ve actually performed a truly meaningful act of selfless humility. And if any of us is convinced that we’re not terribly self-centered, try going the next twenty-four hours without uttering the words “I” or “me”.
Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters. We tend to think superficially that the opposing master is wealth, which is partially true but only in that wealth is a statement about the one that possesses it. But the most priceless asset that God gives each of us a relatively equal share of is time, and Jesus taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) If you want to meet the God in your life, put your daily time in the balance to see which way it tips. The true opposing master to God is self, as the rich young ruler learned when challenged to give everything to the poor and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:13) Most of what we do and possess in life creates the false self-image that we want others to believe about us. Take the low place to be invited up, rather than the high place to be asked to move down, Jesus taught, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) “…the last will be first, and the first last,” He revealed. (Matthew 20:16) But we live in deep denial of our selves desperate to lift ourselves up.
Jesus offered us a pretty convicting and challenging vision of a faithful servant in Luke 17:7-10, but perhaps the best way to fully embrace this calling to be a servant is realized in imagining Jesus laying aside his outer garments before YOU instead of His disciples. See Him take up a towel and tie it around his waist and pour water into a basin and begin to wash YOUR feet. Hear him softly say to you, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (Matthew 13:12-15) Then, watch Jesus go obediently far beyond this example to willingly carry His own cross up Calvary to be nailed to it and lifted up to suffer for YOUR sins.
Choosing between serving ourselves and God will haunt us daily for as long as we are on the journey. Along the way we understand more clearly the difficulty in Paul’s challenge, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) In modern times society has been forced to come to terms with the cruelty of slavery and prejudice and that is a very good thing. The injustices of slavery are becoming a thing of the past in this world, but when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we willingly became His servants. Jesus assured us, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:29) but He has indeed called is into service
“…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”