February 23, 2010 THE DETERMINATION TO SERVE

Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…
Christ’s only concern with status was that no one concern themselves with it. It was simply irrelevant. But in our humanity, we always seem to be looking out for the best for ourselves.

Just a few verses before, James and John show up with their mother who asks Jesus if he would seat her two sons in the most honored places in his kingdom – one on his right and the other on his left. I’ve often wondered - Did James and John ASK her to ask him? Did they think that asking their mother to make the request would make them look less brazen? Were they anticipating the kingdom as an earthly one with their places of honor ensuring privilege for the rest of the family? It is impossible to know for sure, but it is interesting to note, I think, that when Jesus gives his answer, he answers James and John, not their mother. I always marveled at the audacity of this woman – and of James and John, whether they instigated the question or simply felt no shame in going along with such a request. But like so many other places in the Bible, I've found that my position of superiority might not be so superior as I thought.

Most of us living in this country have more than enough food to eat, a roof over our heads, a car in the driveway and enough clothes and shoes to keep us adequately covered. And yet, I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve, at times, found myself complaining that my situation simply isn’t “good enough.” Am I not then doing something just as presumptuous as what James and John’s mother did? Am I not suggesting to God that I deserve a “better place” than where he’s put me? When we think our cars aren’t good enough, our houses aren’t big enough, our closets aren’t full enough, aren’t we really telling God we deserve to be in a better place – in a place of more “honor”?

I’m not suggesting that a broken down car should never be replaced or that we should never aspire to live in a house that is in good repair in a safe neighborhood, but in this country of excesses, I think we need to recognize that constantly grasping for “more” simply isn’t at all what Christ called us to as believers.

Jesus always emphasized service and our call to it as Christians simply trumps every other thing. Chambers calls this being “broken bread and poured out wine” – it is being utterly and totally given to that which God has called us. But Chambers warns that even in service we must be sure that we don’t seek our inspiration from a love of our fellow man, but rather our love for God. He explains:

If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from men than we would from a dog; but if our motive is love to God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men.

We don’t serve just because we like the people in our church or because our neighbor is so friendly or because the other volunteers at an organization are such fun people. It isn’t about that at all! There will always be people who aren’t pleasant no matter what we do for them, there will be times when we stretch ourselves to the limit to go over and above and receive nothing but stony silence and a sense of entitlement in return, but we don’t serve other people for THEIR sake, we do it because we are called to be Christ to others, and that is what he did for us. Chambers closes today’s devotional saying:

Paul’s realization of how Jesus Christ had dealt with him is the secret of his determination to serve others. “I was before a perjurer, a blasphemer, an injurious person” (1 Timothy 1:13) – no matter how men may treat me, they will never treat me with the spite and hatred with which I treated Jesus Christ. When we realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.

When I recognize how Christ has welcomed me with love in spite of the way I’ve treated Him and the times I’ve done no less than stomp on the gift He offers, I am truly humbled, and truly overwhelmed by His love. How then can I do anything except that to which He has called me? How can I do anything less than serve?

Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves (Luke 22:27)