Thought for Monday, December 17th

December 17, 2012

Can You Say - Service

“The world measures a man’s greatness by the number who serve him.  Heaven’s yardstick measures a man by the number who are served by him.”

-       Rev. Herschel H. Hobbs

Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 23:10-12

The idea of being thought of as a servant is not appealing to many people.  The word, servant denotes what most of us perceive to be a person of low estate or unimportance, whose primary function is to facilitate the needs of others.

And isn’t that what God has called all of us to do?

Jesus was a great example of a servant.  He was God in the flesh, yet He knelt and washed the disciple’s feet in the upper room.  He spent most of His ministry meeting the needs of others rather than seeking to meet: or have met: His own needs.  And His entire focus here on earth was not to accomplish something for himself: but rather to do the will of the father and to give of him self for the benefit of others.

As Christians we need to do the same.

We need to be willing to wash feet, if that is what is needed (both literally and figuratively). We need to consider others needs before our own and often we need to be willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of others.

I believe it was Mr. Spock from Star Trek that use to often say, “The needs of the many out weight the needs of the one.” Though Star Trek is not a spiritually motivated or Bible oriented program: the nugget of truth that lies within this statement, would be, if applied to the lives and the ways of thinking of most Christians: a worthwhile and apt point of view to embrace.

As servants our only Master is the Lord, yet those we serve are any and all who He may bring that are in need.

Are you willing to be a server or are you still holding out to be served?

Today’s Prayer

Father; as you lead people with needs into my life, enable, empower and equip me to serve you, by serving them, willingly without reservation or resentment.