Jesus
said the way to become greatest in the next life is by being a humble
servant to everyone during your time on earth. You'll view everyone in a higher
position and you'll consider it a privilege to joyfully serve them. You'll
never get offended when you aren’t appreciated. All glory and thanks goes to
God alone. Just do this every moment of every day for the rest of your life and
you might be a candidate for #1 in heaven. (I have a sneaking suspicion that
the #1 position will go to someone we never heard of). Last week we listed 3
qualifications. Here are 3 more:
4. A “servant of all”
is willing to do any job no matter how undignified it may be.
E. Stanley Jones told a story about a man in
India who became a Christian. The man was a Brahmin convert from the upper
caste in India. Stanley asked him to clean the latrines, which he had never
done before. The Indian man replied, "Brother Stanley, I'm converted, but
not that far.” To be the servant of all we must be converted “that far.” No job
is beneath you, including cleaning toilets, because you are serving God.
5. A “servant of all” doesn’t seek to be recognized. Many times
we want others to compliment and recognize us for what we have done. Jesus
said, “He (the master) does not thank the slave because he did the things which
were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are
commanded of you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which
we ought to have done’” (Luke 17:9-10).
In
case you’re wondering, it’s not wrong to be thanked for your service. If
someone serves you, you should show your gratitude by thanking that person. And
if you serve others and they thank you, you can humbly and graciously say, “I’m
glad I was able to help you.” Keep in mind that we live to please the Lord and
one day He will reward us for our service and “each man’s praise will come to
him from God” (1 Cor. 4:5).
6. A “servant of all”
sees everyone as more important. In God’s eyes the homeless man out on the
streets is just as valuable as the most admired movie star who lives in a
mansion (see Prov. 22:2). Philippians 2:3 says, “With humility of mind let each of you regard
one another as more important than himself.” This does not mean that others
are more important than we are, but that we are to regard them as more important. That means that the “servant of all”
will not look down on anyone but will look up to those who are considered unimportant
by this world’s standards.
Now
you know what it means to be “the servant of all.” All that’s left is to put it
into practice.
NEW BIBLE
STUDY: Are all sins equal or are there degrees of sin? The answer might surprise you!
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
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