For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28
I do not tout or openly share about my virtues very often…if at all. First off, any good virtue that I might perform that produces anything positive is a reflection of the character of Christ dwelling within me. Secondly, it seems quite self-serving to uplift one’s self especially when I have so many bad traits. Thirdly, I learn better from my failings and faults than I do from my not so ugly moments. That is the measure of how far I am from being perfect and how much more I need to surrender to Christ Jesus.
That being said, if there is one thing I like doing, and do pretty well, is serve. Acts of Service is one of my love languages (See The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman). I love the feeling I get when someone else is blessed and benefited by something I did for them. Though I am generally shy and bashful by nature, and I do not seek recognition for good things I might do, I do thoroughly enjoy being affirmed for giving good service. I have labored in service jobs for much of my working life. I used to work as a mentor and organizer for young people for the City of San Mateo. Then I worked at Blockbuster Video (remember Blockbuster!) as a customer service agent. I worked in finance for many years in the customer service department. Now I’m a pastor, the ultimate customer service rep for God.
At Blockbuster I used to dig through bins full of returned videos to help a patron find the one movie they really wanted to rent that they could not find on the shelves. In my work with teens I would hang with them, play games, counsel them, and stay late after work to wait with them until their parents showed up. In my bank job I was one of the top customer service employees. Just a few weeks ago I came across some of the commendations I received from customers and other employees on the service they received from me. It reminded me that I took so much pride in going above and beyond the call of duty. I still do. I enjoy serving.
But, for whatever reason, I feel embarrassed and humbled when I am served. If I go into a store or a hotel or restaurant and deal with a service rep, I try not to act like I am greater than the employee. I want them to feel served by my kindness and disarmed by my silent nod to my equality with them. It is all too easy to look at service jobs and servants in those jobs as less-than because they are performing menial tasks for minuscule wages. But is it not true that regardless of occupation, income, education level, race, or any other varying level of status, that all men are the same? In one sense especially are all people unchangeably equal…and that is that all men are evil and have no hope of redemption or ransom other than the loving and humble service of Jesus Christ who gave all His life for all. In that reality, none are better than any other. Jesus though is better, and yet He serves those who are less than He is. He is heaven’s customer service agent. Giving all to redeem all and to labor for the human race. Jesus deserves to be served, and to be served greatly. But He put on the garments of a suffering servant, those a slave to rescue slaves and hell bound sinners. What grace! And this is why we serve, because we have been so well served.
In Matthew chapter 20, Jesus challenges commonly held ideas about how human society works. We will study into The Life and Teachings of Jesus: Laborers, and peer into the way of Jesus. His life ought to inspire our own, giving us an incentive to desire serving others more than we desire to be served by others. May we enter worship this weekend with joy and reverence for the Lord Jesus. Blessings and seen you soon!
Pastor Dean
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