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Whaaaa!!…but I Wanted to Help Blow Out the Candles!!
I’m the proud papa of 2 young daughters…so I’ve been to my fair share of pink, fairy, bug, and princess/pirate-themed birthday parties. We’ve hosted 9 of our own. Without fail, it seems that one or more of the cute little guests (in all their fancy party attire) ends up crying because they couldn’t elbow their way through the throng of party-goers to get next to the birthday boy or girl to help them blow out their candles. I have the video footage to prove it…and have had to wipe the tears from my little darlings’ cheeks a time or two.
That’s essentially what the disciples were doing here in Luke 22. They wanted to know who got to sit next to Jesus – thereby indicating their “favorite” status. Then, as is often the case, Jesus turned their worlds upside down. In their culture, where rank and position were everything, everyone wanted to be or think of themselves as the first, greatest, richest, most attractive, most loved, smartest, most popular….and you only have to look in the superlatives section of any high school yearbook to see that it’s the same today. So Jesus smacks the disciples upside their heads by telling them the opposite…essentially, “get over yourselves, the one who serves is really the greatest.” He not only told them this, He showed them as well…throughout His ministry, but also at that very meal – when He got up and washed their feet (see John 13).
I don’t know about you, but this definitely gives me a cause for pause. What am I striving for and for whom? Do I have a servant’s heart? Would I rather serve or be served? What would people think if I’m the low man on the totem pole…or worse, serving the low man on the totem pole? How in the world can I be a leader, while at the same time serve? Is that possible? I guess that’s what keeps me looking at Jesus – because that’s what He did….that’s who He was.
What do you think? How do you live a life that’s characterized by serving others? Can you do it in a way that keeps you from still wanting others to see how “great” you are by serving? That’s tough…at least it is for me.
I love to serve. I get the most joy out of helping and seeing others be able to have a great time knowing that I helped out. Does that make me selfish? Who am I in it for?
I know in my heart of hearts that what we do should always point to God. In our everyday lives as well as when we are able to lend a hand. I am thankful to God to be able to help out.
I do love the feeling though.
Regarding daughters, Phil B. has us all beat. But aren’t they a joy? Fathers of girls have a huge responsibility.
It takes a lot to swallow pride and serve others, especially in menial, unacknowledged ways. Sometimes it takes a lot more to swallow pride and to be served by those more humble than we are.
I’m with you, Doug. I struggle with wanting to impress others on how “great” I am, even in my serving. I confess that much of my serving has been for that very reason. Not a pretty picture when I’m looking into Jesus face.