"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
saying, “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
“Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do,
but do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do...
“But all their works they do to be seen by men.
They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
“Greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’...
“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Matthew 23:1-3,5-7,11,12 Jesus is referring to the scribes and Pharisees wanting to be seen by everyone.
They were arrogant, puffed up. They lacked humility and a servant’s heart.
We need to look very carefully at our lives. Do we have a servant’s heart? Do we love the LORD our God with all our heart and soul? If so, are we following Jesus’ example.
Jesus washed the dirty feet of His disciples. When was the last time you washed the feet of anyone?
It’s normal in church to want to be in the high profile positions. To be performing in the choir or leading worship. There’s just something that appeals to one’s ego, about being at the front, visible to all.
Somehow compared to changing a diaper in the nursery, leading worship is just more appealing. Yet, that child needs the help of someone perhaps more than the church needs a worship leader.
I worked for a large institution, one time, as a janitor. When you started, the first thing they put you on was cleaning washrooms. I cleaned thirteen public washrooms, which included thirty toilets for my first year there. Most people didn’t last that long, they quit even though the money and benefits were excellent.
Those “who paid their dues on washroom duty” usually stayed with the company a long time and did an excellent job. It proved a bonus for the company, because they found out who really wanted the job. Who was really willing to serve the company.
Something to think about:
Christianity is about service.
It’s about Christ leaving His thrown in heaven to become a servant. John 3:16 states it clearly “ "For God so loved the world that he gave...” God gave of himself that we may have eternal life.
God sent His only Son down from the security of heaven to die for our sins.
If we are to be effective as Christians we have to have that same servants heart. We have to be willing to do anything for Christ. Be it cleaning the church wash rooms, changing a dirty diaper in the nursery or ministering the word of God to our neighbour.
We must be willing to do those hidden, thankless jobs around the church and do them without hesitation or thought of reward. Are you?
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