Servant of All

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave."   Matthew 20:25-27

When was the last time you saw the school custodian on the cover of Time magazine?  What about a nurse, a garbage collector?  Or, a mother who doesn't work outside the home?

Our world doesn't value servants.  In fact, they often view these positions as embarrassing and even disgraceful.  We are encouraged to climb higher, get more, make more, have others do the things we would rather not do.  It's this mentality that if we work hard enough, we should eventually get to skate on easy street, be the king of the hill, and it comes with the territory where I work.  

But, God values servants.  He is the servant of all.

Our world's way of thinking is backwards.  I was reminded of just how backwards it is today.  While getting water in our work kitchen, I noticed a woman about two decades my senior cleaning up after some ungrateful folks who made a mess in the kitchen.  It wasn't the first time, or the second, either.

I don't know about you, but my momma taught me, "If you make a mess, you clean it up!"  This particular lady is always cleaning up after others.  I listen to them laugh about her, ridicule her, and do little to nothing in helping her clean up their messes.

Watching her gentle, kind, and loving service fueled me with a healthy dose of righteous indignation, so I stopped watching and got my own hands dirty, then ran my mouth to quiet the ungrateful ones who clearly did not have the benefit of a good momma.

God's way is so much different than the world's way.

The world says, get.  God says, give.

The world says, hang on to your life.  God says, give your life to me and you will find life.

The world says, be the master of all!  God says, be the servant of all.

The disciples struggled with this principle, just like we do.  They argued with Jesus about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3-5; Mark 9:33-34; Luke 9:46-47).  Matthew 18:2-3 tells us, "Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.'"

And, in Matthew 23:11 Jesus told them, "The greatest among you must be a servant."

Father in Heaven, help me to resist the urge to follow the world's way.  Humble my heart and soul. Forgive me for my sin.  Make me like a child.  Make me a servant of all today.

Goodnight, Runners.