Articles
Serve One Another
What does being a servant mean?
In 2024 America, being a servant brings a couple things to mind:
- My own first reaction is to think of a waiter/waitress. There are several things that resonate in our minds when we think of “servers”, either due to our own experiences in that job or our own experiences interacting with servers. I think of being on your feet all day, constantly moving - taking down orders from your customers, preparing the food made by the cooks, delivering that food, and then suffering the wrath of the angry customer whose food is not cooked correctly. It doesn’t sound very glamorous. People who are successful as a server early in their careers often have a unique ability to work through difficulties more successfully in future jobs because of these experiences. I also think about the tips that come along with the day to day grind. Sometimes you are rewarded for working hard and sometimes not so much. You are subject to the level of generosity of the people you interact with.
- Maybe your first reaction is to think about slavery. There are many in today’s world that have experienced being a slave firsthand, or have family that did, but it’s something I can’t personally relate to. Being a servant to a master brings many negative connotations. While it’s certainly true that there are respectful, honest, and kind masters, as the bible gives instructions, historically that is not the norm. Degrading is a word that comes to mind. The suffering of so many does not bring peaceful images to mind about being a servant. There really aren’t enough words to accurately portray the awful things that come to mind.
Neither of these provide an accurate depiction of Jesus.
In John 13:1-17, we see Jesus tie his outer garment around his waist, kneel down, and wash his disciples’ feet. After completing this task, Jesus says in v.14, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
When we consider who Jesus is and what he actually did here…he took on the role of the servant, the lowest in the house and performed a task that showed honor to his disciples. He showed them in real terms that he valued them more than himself. Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Jesus deserves the most honor out of anyone in the entire existence of this world and he chose to show honor to others instead of making the disciples wash his feet. Let that sink in for a minute. If the King of Kings and Lord of Lords chose to show honor to people that he created by performing a menial, simple, humbling, and degrading task…who am I to show pride or contempt or an attitude that I’m above a task when there is an opportunity to show honor?
We will face this choice this week, next week, next month…It doesn’t have to be a grandiose gesture. It can be simple. It can be stopping to talk to someone that hasn’t been at worship in a while. It can be praying with and for someone. It can be bringing meals to those who have their hands full. It can be lifting a burden that someone has been carrying for far too long. It can be cleaning up a yard for someone that isn’t able to do it themselves. It can be reaching out via text to someone that needs encouragement to let them know you are praying for them (and actually pray for them). And yes, it can even be washing someone’s feet. The next time I have an opportunity to show honor to someone else, let my response be…”Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8.
Who will join me in showing honor?
