Serve

Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)
28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

It would seem a lot of people prefer to be served rather than to serve others. People don't mind serving when everyone is watching and it looks good. Like on a mission trip. Like building a home for Habitat For Humanity and the cameras capture the moment. Like doing something for the purpose of applauded by others. What about the times when nobody is watching. What about those times when nobody notices. Those things done in secret behind the scenes for those who can do nothing to repay you. That will test the quality of your service. Or do you cut corners in your service because in your mind it doesn't really matter.

Jesus deserved to be served. He was and is royalty. He is a King. He is the Lord. He is the Master. There is no name higher than Jesus. One day at the mention of that name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. If anyone ever earned the right to be served Jesus could rightly make that claim.

He did just the opposite. He served others. He touched the unclean. He help the demon possessed. He stayed late in the night helping people and listening to them. He went places and connected with people the religious authorities shunned. He did not condemn the woman who poured the perfume on His feet and wiped them with her tears and hair. He didn't stone the woman caught in adultery. He made Himself available to serve and minister early in the morning and late into the night to all kinds of people.

Jesus served teaching in backwood places to the common people. He could have demanded an audience in the most prestigious religious settings but He didn't. He taught by the beach. He taught on mountain sides. He taught in the streets and while walking with His disciples. He shared truth with them over campfires. Jesus made Himself accessible.

Jesus also set the example for all people when He bowed His knees and washed the dirty grimy feet of His disciples. He humbled Himself.

At a time when so many church people clamor for the top positions to make the most influential decisions you don't see many standing in line to visit shut ins,  visit those in retirement homes, to minister to wait staff at restaurants, to pick up a broom and sweep or carry out the trash, and to move a table or a set of chairs. People don't rush to sign up to stay in the nursery. Servanthood is lost on many in the church.

I am thankful for a man named Jeff Robinson. He is one of my dearest friends and a pastor in Hammond, LA. Nobody demonstrated servanthood more than he did in my life. He served by example. After a Christmas banquet, when all the other preachers stood around talking. Jeff and his church members volunteered to help clean up at the end spontaneously. That made a huge impression on me. None of the other preachers joined in. They continued gabbing while the serving went on underneath their noses. The big shot high profile preachers on that night did not have the same attitude as Jesus. They thought they should be served. Jeff did not do it for attention. He did it because he is a servant. I cannot even recount all the times he came to my aid in times of need.

True servants do not draw attention to themselves. True servants see a need and meet it. It is that simple. Jesus did that. He saw nobody had washed off the dusty dirty feet and He met the need. We may not even notice the needs around us because we are so self absorbed. Case in point. Ever seen trash on the ground at a park, parking lot, or other public place. What did you do? Did you pick it up and discard it? Did you walk right on past? Is that beneath you to stoop to pick up trash?

Here is another simple act of service. From time to time the toilet paper roll runs out. Have you ever left it for someone else to change? Seriously. A job that takes seconds. It is a need around your home. Do you ever meet the need or leave it for the next person? This is such a little thing but it demonstrates a big attitude of the heart and mind.  Same thing with the trash, dishes, laundry and a hundred other little things that nobody will notice. It is still service.

Why aren't we more like Jesus? In a word... we are selfish. Self centered. Self absorbed. Jesus denied Himself. He willingly humbled Himself leaving Heaven to live on planet Earth. As a child I can see Jesus being the first to volunteer to do household chores nobody else wanted to do. His service ultimately meant the sacrifice of His life on the cross. We are called to follow Jesus' example. To serve.

I learned a long time ago that life in ministry means serving others. That comes in many different ways. Sometimes it means listening. Sometimes it means helping someone move. It might mean shoveling dirt or mowing. It might mean visiting a retirement home or making a hospital visit. It might mean multitudes of little insignificant things that nobody will ever see and you will never get credit for doing. Except that Jesus sees. He keeps a record. No good deed done for Him goes unnoticed. He sees and He is pleased when His children take the towel and basin and bend the knee to serve others.