Luke 22:26
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
Serving One Another
There is an old saying that the greatest
person is not the one who has the most servants but the one who serves
the most. I love that. I love answering the phone as a pastor by saying
“how can I help you” or “what can I do for you” because I am a servant
to all who need help. I am not there to be served but to be a servant
to others. Occasionally, our church has a foot washing just to teach us
all the lesson that we are to serve one another and not to be served by
others. Jesus said that the greatest is the one who serves, not the one
who is served (Luke 22:26). Jesus came as God and our Lord, but He
humbled Himself, even to the point of death on a cross (Phil. 2:8). By
doing so, He left us an example of serving to the point of giving our
lives for one another.
Unselfish Ambitions
Paul stressed that we are not to do
anything for gain or out of selfish ambition but to put a higher value
upon others than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). This means we are to be devoted
to one another out of a heart of love and to honor others above
ourselves (Rom. 12:10). That’s easy to say but oh so hard to do. This
means we are to submit ourselves to others out of a reverence for Christ
(Eph. 5:21). There is no room in the church for conceit or envy (Gal.
5:26). For those who are self-seeking, they are at risk for facing the
wrath of God (Rom. 2:8). We are not to be like those in the world. So my
question to you is this: What are some small things you can do today
that will have a large impact on someone’s life? If you can think of
them, then seek to do them, thereby building up the church and being a
servant of all
Serving Christ
If we are to serve Christ, this means
that we are to follow in His footsteps. His life was one of being a
servant, even though He is God. If we are serving Christ, then we are
serving others. By serving others, we are serving the Father, and God
will honor such a one who does this (John 12:26). Remember that Jesus
came to serve and not to be served and gave His life as a ransom for
those who would repent and trust in Him (Matt. 20:28). We should not
serve grudgingly but serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2) because
He came to serve us, giving His life for us who were most unworthy.
Don’t base doing things for others on their worthiness because neither
did we deserve Christ’s life for us.
A Closing Prayer
Great God in heaven, You sent Your Son
to die for me and be a servant, sacrificing His life for mine, which, of
course, I didn’t deserve. So let me serve others with this in mind in
order that I can follow in His footsteps and be the servant of all. In
Jesus Christ’s holy name I pray.
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