Surprised by Servanthood
Surprised by Servanthood
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. (Matt. 20:26)
Liz and Judy were stunned when, after prayer and a brief intro, the conference speaker walked to the platform. Surprised, Judy turned to her friend: “Liz, I never for one minute suspected that the lady we were talking with in the dining hall was our guest speaker. She seemed so concerned about everyone else, and she certainly didn’t promote herself in any way.”
Liz said, “I didn’t have any idea either. She was so busy doing the menial stuff like moving chairs, setting up tables, and opening boxes, I just assumed she was a conference assistant. But I was impressed with her friendliness and gentle spirit.”
Judy commented, “Well, I’m certainly going to listen closely to her presentation. Her humility and servant’s heart have impacted me already.”
We live in a culture that nurtures the celebrity syndrome. Even in Christian circles people are often placed on pedestals whether they want to be or not.
When Jesus’ disciples aspired to greatness or a prominent place in His kingdom, He assured them that whoever wanted to become great must become a servant. Then He reminded them that He came not to be served but to serve (Matt. 20:26–28).
Many times our flesh resists the humility of servanthood. But through the self-denial of quiet service, we grow in Christ and find favor with God. Jesus reminds us in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
If you find yourself resisting the work of a servant, ask God to give you joy so that the “slave whose master finds him working . . . will be rewarded” (Luke 12:43).