Training Camp…Developing the Disciplines
Service
Matthew 20:25-28
My son, Andrew, sent me this introductory story this week: Last week a film hit the street that has drawn lots of testosterone driven young men to the theaters – it’s called “300”. It is the story of King Leonidas leading an army of 300 Spartans into battle against the army of Persia, estimated by some historians to be near 1 million in number. He sets off across the Greek countryside trying to recruit more troops to join the battle. In one scene, Leonidas comes across another army that refuses to join him and fight the Persians. The other leader says something to the affect of “You do not have enough soldiers to beat the Persians!” The king replies by asking one of the other man’s soldiers what his profession is. The man replies, “I am a potter sir” another replies, “I am a carpenter” King Leonidas then asks his 300 men, “Spartans! What is your profession?” In unison they shout, “warriors.”
If I were to ask you to describe yourself in one word; if I
were to ask what one adjective best sums up your identity, what would you say?
If you met someone for the first time, and they asked, "What are
you?" how would you answer? What single term would you give in response to
that question? You might respond in terms of your vocation. Many of us derive
our identify from our work. So you could say, "I’m an engineer;"
"I’m a homemaker;" "I’m a lawyer;" "I’m a
pastor." You could answer according to your family status. "I’m a
father," or "I’m the mother of three children." There are
literally dozens of possibilities: religious affiliation: "I’m
Catholic," or "I’m Baptist." Nationality: "I’m an
American." Political party: "I’m a Democrat," or "I’m a Republican."
Family or clan, "I’m a Smith, I’m a Campbell." Ethnic background:
"I’m Scottish," "I’m African-American," "I’m
German". Gender: "I’m a man." "I’m a woman."
The way you answer that question is significant because it reveals what
personal attributes you consider as central to your identity. What’s at the
core of your view of yourself. Would it interest you to know that when the
authors of the New Testament began their letters, they all used the same
adjective to identify themselves? What do you think that adjective was? Not
"Christian." Not "disciple". Not "teacher."
Romans 1:1- "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle
" (He repeats this title in his letters to Rome, The Galatians, Ephesians,
Colossians, Timothy and Titus!)
James 1:1 - "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"
2 Peter 1:1 - "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ"
Jude 1:1 – “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James"
Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God
gave Him, to show His servants…”
What does this tell us? That they all considered their status as servants to be
the most significant aspect of their identity as followers of Christ. That in
the years immediately following the death and resurrection of Christ, as the
church was being formed and the followers of Christ were developing a sense of
who they were, and what it meant to be a disciple, this idea of
"servanthood" was at the center of their thinking. In the book of
Acts, in chapters 3 & 4, in the very first sermons Peter preached, he
identifies the Lord as “servant Jesus” four times.
What does it mean to be a Christian? What is our identity as
a Christ-follower? It means being a servant. A servant of God. A servant of
Jesus Christ. And a servant of the church, a servant of other believers.
Today, as we continue our study of the Spiritual Disciplines, we come to the
discipline of Service. “Service”
is defined as the offering of our resources, time, treasure, influence and
expertise for the care, protection, justice and nurture of others.” When we commit to the discipline of service,
we give hands and feet to the second greatest commandment to “love your
neighbor as you love your self.”[i]
The Bible teaches, and this church affirms, that every person who has asked Jesus to be their’ Lord and Savior, who has been forgiven through the blood he poured out on the cross, who has been saved by faith in Jesus Christ is called to be a servant. The Bible clearly states that each believer has been equipped by God with a particular and unique set of gifts, personality traits and passions that make each one of us a vital part of the body of Christ. In I Corinthians chapter 12, we are told that the body is a unit, and though it is made up of many parts, they form one body. In the church, each one of us is a part of the body – and if we do not do our part, the entire body suffers.
Gateway Community Church has a team of individuals who are here to assist you in discovering your gifts and helping you get plugged in to an effective place of service within the body of Christ. Marlee Christians is going to come and give a quick overview of this vital ministry, and then we are going to talk at length about the nature of our service.
[Marlee outlines
Spiritual Gifts Ministry]
For many of us, this is not new information. At Gateway Community Church we have talked about this issue for years – since the very beginning of this church. Our goal has long been to place “the right people, in the right place, for the right reason.” In the few moments we have left this morning, I want us to focus quickly on the last part of that phrase – “the right reason.”
It is very possible - in fact it’s quite easy - to be the right person, and be serving in the right place, but have the reasons all messed up. In fact, it happened to the disciples as they were serving right along side Jesus! In Matthew 20, verses 20-28, we find the story of James and John, and their mother, Salome, who came to Jesus and asked that her sons be given positions of honor – one on a throne at Jesus right hand, the other on his left hand. She, and they, wanted to be recognized as the greatest, the most honored. The disciples were still expecting Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom, and these two wanted to be princes in his kingdom. When the rest of the disciples heard about this attempt to take top billing they were really angry. And you thought controversy and power struggles only happened in modern churches, didn’t you?
Jesus used this internal struggle as a chance to give some very important teaching about the nature of our service in the body of Christ. He said,
"You know that the rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over
them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become
great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants
to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many."
The disciples were all people who had abandoned everything to follow Jesus – they were doing what he told them, sacrificing for His kingdom – we see them as “saints,” godly people who have halos firmly in place. But their following of Christ was stained by improper motives. They were serving Christ – but they were not Servants. It is equally possible for us to be involved in service – but not be a servant. There is a service that is selfish and self-righteous, which I am calling “self-service;” and there is a service that is humble and unassuming, which I am calling ”authentic service.” Only the latter matters in the kingdom of God. Because it is so easy to slip into self-service, I want to just point out some differences, and call all of us – and I do mean all of us (me included), to daily check the sincerity level of our service to God.[ii]
Self-service is based on human effort. Authentic service is based on divine prompting. If my serving is the results of a lot of hard work and expending a lot of energy – then I need to reevaluate. That does not mean that serving is not hard work – a servant works hard, but he doesn’t work hard at being a servant – he just IS a servant! My service does not stem from my self – it comes from my heart – a heart that has been surrendered to God. My service may be hard work – but I don’t have to work hard at being a servant – it is part of who I am.
Self-service is drawn toward “large venues.” Authentic service is oblivious to scales. Many people find it easy to do a habitat for humanity project if former president Jimmy Carter is going to be along side – but authentic service doesn’t mind serving the forgotten – in fact the genuine servant is going to be drawn to those otherwise missed because they see their great need.
Imagine how many people in my line of work would love the opportunity to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, to the president and all the senators and congressmen. They would see that as a lofty goal – and would build a reputation, and submit sample sermons, and hope for the opportunity – only to see it given to a frail woman who gave her life in service of the poverty stricken, overlooked lepers of Calcutta. Real servants serve without care for who notices.
Self-service requires external reward. Authentic service is content to be hidden. Self-service is fixed upon recognition. It seeks applause and appreciation. This is a touch one. I struggle with this – when I was in food service, there were times when my staff and I would put in incredibly long days and work very hard to put out an excellent product. But when the program was wrapping up, and the MC was thanking this person for their part, and that person for their work – if they failed to thank my staff and me – I got really upset. After all, I worked hard and I deserve their thanks and the public acknowledgment of it!
Authentic service, however, will be satisfied simply to serve. If there is appreciation shown, it is graciously accepted – there’s no false humility here – but there’s no clamoring for it. This is a tough one – because as Christians we are commanded to give honor to whom honor is due – we need to be a people who are gracious and appreciative of those who serve – but the genuine servant of God does not seek such things – the “Divine nod of approval” is sufficient for them.
Self-service is selective. Authentic service is indiscriminate. Somehow when I talk about my days as a caterer and chef, I find it much easier to talk about serving a few Presidents, Senators and Governors than the thousands of college and grammar school students I served every day. That’s true of self-service. It is more willing to serve the powerful and noteworthy because somehow that serves their own ego and reputation. Authentic service will serve everyone, blind to their station in life.
Self-service is temporary. Authentic service is a life-style. It does not stop when the project is done – authentic service keeps serving – it finds ways to serve. Opportunities to serve are obvious to the authentic servant, they never have trouble finding a way to assist someone somewhere.
Self-service destroys unity. Authentic service builds community. Self service is, well, self-serving. It’s all about the individual. When I would get all in a huff about my staff and I not being thanked at those events at the school, and sent of an email to the principle or the superintendent of schools – it not only made me look like a smaller man – and petty – it caused the person who had neglected us to be reprimanded, which made them angry and defensive, which made me defensive, and caused tension in the work place and weekend the entire administrative team. Destruction is a natural result of any self-serving endeavor because my self is greedy and demanding and egotistical.
Authentic service builds community because it goes about quietly and modestly caring for, and loving meeting the needs of others. It attracts, heals, unites and builds. Such is the blessing of authentic service.
So how do we avoid self-serving and embrace authentic service? A few practical steps:
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” You can be great in the kingdom of God by being an authentic, genuine servant of those around you. May God give us the grace, love and humility to follow the example of Jesus and to serve Him and others faithfully.
Prayer