. What Would Jesus Do … About Serving?

There was a time in the history of our nation when neighbors helped neighbors. If a man needed a barn - people would gather from all around and build it for him. If a farmer was behind harvesting his crops, - his neighbors would join in to help. Too many of us hardly know our neighbors' names.

We live closer together physically, - but much farther apart emotionally and spiritually! Today, crimes often occur before witnesses who turn and look the other way! Our Creator has created us to interact and serve others. I'm not sure our society can or will return to the community values of our forefathers. Regardless of society, the people of God, especially the local church must set the example.

What would Jesus do about serving?

Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Jesus is the greatest example of a servant. God's ultimate goal for our lives is that we be like Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate servant. We must develop the heart of a servant. Let's look at some principles of servanthood.

1. SERVING BEGINS WITH A HUMBLE ATTITUDE

Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Examine Our Own Attitudes. Our attitude is not to be one of "selfish ambition." Some were preaching the true gospel, but doing so with the motivation of bringing people over to their side. We are to tell people about Jesus not so much so we can make them members of our church, but for the glory of Christ!

Our attitude is not to be one of "conceit." This word means "empty pride." Many people seem to do great service for God but really only serve themselves. Our attitude is to be one of "lowliness of mind." That doesn't mean a sense of low self-worth. Or being a doormat.

Andrew Murry "The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself; he simply does not think of himself at all."

If Jesus had thought of Himself first, He would have never gone to the cross. Our attitude is to "esteem others better than our self." Instead of focusing on our desires, abilities and goals, we are to "esteem" or build up the desires, abilities and goals of others. We are not to be focused only on our "own interests" but also on "the interests of others."

The Attitude of Jesus

Paul tells us "Let this mind [lit. "attitude"] be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." TEV, says, "The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had."

What kind of attitude did Jesus have? He was "equal with God," Phillips translates it, "he did not cling to His privileges as God's equal." Rather, He "made Himself of no reputation." He divested Himself of the glories of heaven. He "emptied Himself" of His rights and privileges as the Son of God. He took "the form of a servant" and came "in the likeness of men."

Jesus is humble, He was born as a man. He didn't choose an elaborate setting. He entered this world in a barn and was wrapped in rags! Jesus "humbled Himself." No one forced Him to do it. He willingly "became obedient to the point of death." He gave up His divine life. He died for us and died the worst death imaginable… "the death of the cross."

An Attitude Check for a 20th Century Church. If Jesus can so humble Himself as a servant, so can we. If Jesus did so humble Himself so should we! When something needs to be done, do you wait around for someone else to do it? Do you think that certain jobs are beneath you? Would Jesus volunteer: to teach a SS class? lead a group in the church? help clean the fellowship hall? help out on a work day? be a youth ministry sponsor? prepare a meal for a family in need? If He would, why don't we?

It's all about our attitude. Matthew records a proud mother (Mat.20:20-28). A Typical pretentious Mother, Mrs. Zebedee, the mother of James and John. She came to Jesus with her boys. In apparent humility she came "kneeling down" desiring to ask "something from Him." Jesus allowed her to ask her question. She said, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in your kingdom." She was proud of her boys. She knew they could never occupy the center throne. She didn't hesitate to ask for the next two!

Like any mother, she wanted her sons to be recognized. We parents do that all the time, bragging, showing pictures. Jesus "called them to Himself." He had to settle them down a bit so they would listen to Him. Jesus told them "that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and that those who are great exercise authority over them." That's true is almost every area of life.

Some people give orders. Some people follow orders. In government we have a president, congress and judicial system. In the military there are high-ranking officers who command lower-ranking officers who command the enlisted troops. In athletics, there are coaches and players. In business there are CEO's, managers, superintendents, foremen and laborers. In families there are fathers, mothers, then children. Jesus said "It shall not be so among you."

The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms of the world. Why? In God's family there is one great body of people: servants. The only way to the top in the Kingdom is by serving. Jesus gave The principle when He said, "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant." Jesus said "Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave" or "let him be last."

Jesus is the great example of this radical principle. For even He, the Lord God of Heaven "did not come to be served, but to serve." Are we better than Jesus?

20th Century Disciples. What about us? What about our words, the way we affirm others? Do they represent that lovely Christ-like spirit or are they manipulative and self-exalting? How do you feel when someone else gets a promotion? How do you feel when someone else gets the limelight? Do you genuinely congratulate them? Do you harbor intense feelings of resentment and jealousy? Do you give them false flattery while you seethe inside?

Because we live in this world where "those who are great exercise authority," its easy to forget that our true citizenship is that of a heavenly kingdom. Our eternal rewards will not be based on the pecking order of this world, but on our service.

1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

Luke 18:14 Jesus said "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"

2. Serve with Humble Actions (John 13:1-17).

Jesus' Final Meal with His Disciples. Jesus had His disciples reserve a room and prepare for the traditional Passover feast. It was a festive holiday to the Jews, like our own Christmas or Thanksgiving. When Jesus "knew that His hour had come." ( about time to "depart from this world." "having loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end."

Jesus got up from the table. Next, He "laid aside His garments" or removed His outer robes. He took a long "towel and girded Himself." Jesus chose to appear as the most menial household slave. He "poured water in a basin" and washed the feet of each disciple.

Peter didn't understand what Jesus was doing, but Jesus set him straight. Jesus had voluntarily taken the role of a servant. He had washed their dirty feet. After Jesus put His clothing back on and returned to the table, He asked them, "Do you know what I have done to you?" He taught them that if He their "Teacher and Lord" can perform the most humble action of service for them, so they should serve each other.

There have been groups of Christians who practiced "foot-washing" considering it almost a third ordinance of the church. Have you ever washed someone's feet? Think about it. It is a humiliating act. Maybe we ought to take Jesus' words in vv.14-15 more literally. Most of us interpret this passage figuratively. It would be interesting to see who would show up to wash the feet of others!

Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you." They must have perked up at that. Jews were into commandments! It had taken Jesus three and half years to get them to the point they could hear this "new commandment." It's not difficult. It doesn't take a highly educated theologian to understand it. It's so simple a child can grasp it. "as I have loved you… you also love one another."

What happens when we obey this commandment? "All the world will know that you are my disciples." How humble are our actions? How quick are we to serve? What duties do we avoid? What do we consider beneath us? It is in our actions, our visible service that our love for one another is revealed. Such love in motion is irresistible to the lost world.

Is it difficult? Yes. Does it take great determination? Yes. Is it impossible? No. Jesus never commands us to do the impossible.

It has been said "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way."

Let's change that just a bit:
"A servant is one who looks for what needs to be done, does what needs to be done, and loves doing what needs to be done."

Do an unselfish act of service this week.

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