Servanthood
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV) Jesus spoke these words to His twelve disciples. James and John wanted places of honor in the kingdom. The other disciples were angry with them. This isn’t the only time they argued over greatness and position.
Jesus’ words must have shocked them! He told them that they were not to be like the rulers and officials who exercise authority over others. In fact, whoever wanted to be great must first become a servant or slave.
When I was a little girl, my brother and I sometimes argued. If my brother asked me to do something, I remember telling him, “I’m not your slave!” That certainly was not a very loving response, was it?
But that’s the kind of response we hear all too often. It seems part of human nature to want to be the greatest, the boss, the person who is most recognized. We don’t want to be a lowly slave with someone telling us what to do all the time.
Jesus said if we really want to become great, we must be servants.
A slave or servant did not have his own authority. He could not do whatever he wanted, but had to do whatever his master told him to do.
Our Master is Jesus, and He has called us to be like Him. He came to serve, not to be served. Though He is God, He “made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” (Philippians 2:2)
Why do you think Jesus calls us to be servants? Think about that and share your answers.
Serving others is one way we demonstrate love for them and for the Lord. Serving one another is a witness to the world of the sacrificial love that Jesus has for them. People who do not know the Lord may never set foot in church or read a Bible, but they can see Jesus through us when we lovingly serve others.
Jesus demonstrated love for His disciples when He washed their dirty feet. He said that He did this to leave us an example we should follow.
Sometimes we think serving God is something people do on the mission field or if they are a pastor or Sunday School teacher. These are important ways to serve, but there are many ways we can serve every day, no matter what our age. Can you get up from the table and get the milk for your brother or sister? Can you help them with chores they find difficult? Can you use some of the homemaking skills you are learning to make your mother’s job easier?
What are some ways you can serve others? What are some ways your parents serve you? Write these down, then look for other ways you can serve. Each time you serve, you are becoming more like Jesus.
One day, when we see Him face-to-face, we want to hear Him say: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” And, I’ll tell you a little secret: You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to experience that joy. There is joy in service right here on the earth, knowing that as you serve others, it is the Lord Jesus Himself that you are serving (see Matthew 25:34-40).
Copyright, 2001, 2009 Laurie Latour.
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