Greatness in Serving

In our last sermon we examined the teaching of Jesus on true greatness. True greatness, as Jesus said, was not based on being served but on serving others. Serving others is not something that comes easy. Even though we have the Holy Spirit and have been given the mind of Christ, we still have sinful tendencies in us that inspire us to want to be served. By nature we are selfish and self serving people. But Christ has set us free from living under the domination of our sinful nature. If we are going to serve others and "be the slaves of all" we must first die to ourselves. When the apostle Paul gathered the Ephesian elders to wish them farewell before he journeyed to Jerusalem he exhorted them and testified of his own ministry. In testifying of his own ministry he explained to them that the Holy Spirit has testified to him that he was going to face imprisonment. What was his response to this?

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."Acts 20:24

This sounds bizarre and self deprecating. Paul does not value his life? Isn't life a gift from God? What Paul meant was that he "didn't count his life dear to himself" He knew that wasn't living for himself, but for God. Saul of Tarsus had died. Life had new meaning now for Paul. It had meaning and purpose in regards to living for God. So how did Paul's life manifest itself? As we read further in the text, we see Paul recount and describe his ministry..


33-35  I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”


Wow. Not only was Paul a faithful minister of the gospel, but he worked with his own hands and labored to "help the weak". Why? Because he was mindful of the teaching of Jesus, "It is better to give than receive" which is Paul's way of articulating, "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all."Mark 10:44

The only way we can truly serve others with a joyful heart and give of ourselves freely is if we have died to ourselves and do not count our lives as dear to ourselves. This is the only way we can truly be great in the Kingdom of God. Jesus put it another way, "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." John 12:25-26

Serving Christ, Serving others = reward of eternal life and being found honorable in the sight of the Father.

Signing off..