Serving the Lord can be at times very interesting. And watching others serve the Lord can be equally interesting and disturbing. It can be very tempting to take on an air of self importance when one is serving. However, just the opposite should be the case. More of Jesus, less of us.
When we reflect upon the life and service of Jesus we can see one very marked character attribute. It is the attribute of humility. You do not read in the Bible of instances where Jesus was pompous, or arrogant. You do not read of cases where he put his needs above those he was serving. He was there because His Father sent Him. He was fulfilling the will of His Father. In healing the sick, the lame, and the blind, it was not about him. It was about serving others. It was about spreading the love of His Father to the many. He was not elevate, rather His Father was raised up. When He cast the demons out of people, he would not permit the demons to speak of Him (Mark 3:12). He reached out to those who served the will of God embracing them as His brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35). Those who choose to serve the Lord should take counsel from Mark 7: 6-13. It is not about us, it is about God. Pride is a dangerous pitfall. It has tripped up many a servant. I know from my own experience that one should not let praise go to your head when serving. I was given that word of caution and have taken it to heart. The temptation is great, the risk is huge, and the reward is nothing. We who serve make ourselves nothing and the one we serve is made everything. Being praised for doing a good job serving can be discomforting. My suggestion is to offer thanks for the praise and to suggest that to God be the praise. It is a subtle reminder to you and it lets those who are praising you know that it is not about you. It is all about the One We Serve.
PRAYER: Lord of Hosts, thank You for the many opportunities we are offered to serve You. We are provided spiritual gifts to further Your kingdom. We use those gifts is serving our fellow man, and in serving You. Help us dear Lord. Help us with the faith we need to remain humble in our serving and mindful of who we are truly serving. Let there be more of You and less of us. We ask this in the name of the One who served all in humility. Your Son, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit. One God, now and forever. Amen
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