I love Jesus. I especially love when He teaches things that are completely against how the world practices and preaches things. You always hear the world promoting greatness and success. Jesus does the opposite. He says, "So the last will be first, and the first last." He also says, "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave..." Jesus who was the Greatest, came to serve not to be served. This is the example we must follow as believers. But how do we become a servant? A verse that I always remind myself of because of my selfish nature is this:
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
I really think that to be a servant, means to think of yourself as a humble servant. Have the mindset of 'How can I serve this person today?' not, 'How can they serve me today?' I know that sounds silly, and most of us don't ponder how we can be served in a day, but our selfish nature demands that others do just that! When we see a way in which we could serve someone, often we bolt out the door with a rhyme or reason for needing to leave. Maybe you don't relate. Honestly, this is my nature. I am not a great servant. I think God has definitely done a heart change in me the last few years and I am much more willing to serve today than I would have a few years ago, but it's not about the action of serving, but rather the condition of the heart. I know, I know, I always talk about the heart! But that's because that's the heart of the matter! {no pun intended!} Jesus doesn't care about our actions, if our hearts are not truly in it. Remember what He said about the Pharisees?
Matthew 15:7-9
[Jesus speaking] "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
The Pharisees honored God with what they said, but their hearts were not surrendered to Him. We can say all we want. We can do all we want. But if our hearts do not belong fully to Jesus, then what we say and what we do is meaningless.
So, where is your heart at? Do you have the heart of a servant? Do you see yourself as better than others? James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Let us then be humble before God and others. Let us not conform to the world with "bettering ourselves" but rather, serve other people to better them. How can you serve someone today? What attitudes do you need to change?
~Leanne~
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
I really think that to be a servant, means to think of yourself as a humble servant. Have the mindset of 'How can I serve this person today?' not, 'How can they serve me today?' I know that sounds silly, and most of us don't ponder how we can be served in a day, but our selfish nature demands that others do just that! When we see a way in which we could serve someone, often we bolt out the door with a rhyme or reason for needing to leave. Maybe you don't relate. Honestly, this is my nature. I am not a great servant. I think God has definitely done a heart change in me the last few years and I am much more willing to serve today than I would have a few years ago, but it's not about the action of serving, but rather the condition of the heart. I know, I know, I always talk about the heart! But that's because that's the heart of the matter! {no pun intended!} Jesus doesn't care about our actions, if our hearts are not truly in it. Remember what He said about the Pharisees?
Matthew 15:7-9
[Jesus speaking] "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
The Pharisees honored God with what they said, but their hearts were not surrendered to Him. We can say all we want. We can do all we want. But if our hearts do not belong fully to Jesus, then what we say and what we do is meaningless.
So, where is your heart at? Do you have the heart of a servant? Do you see yourself as better than others? James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Let us then be humble before God and others. Let us not conform to the world with "bettering ourselves" but rather, serve other people to better them. How can you serve someone today? What attitudes do you need to change?
~Leanne~
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