Living as servants

Stewardship Temple Talk

October 10 and October 13, 2013

So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42-45)

By nature we are often self-focused and not inclined to see, much less seek, opportunities to serve others; but the transforming power of the Holy Spirit enables us to be servant-like in our relationships with others. Being a servant means, first of all, being available. It also means being willing. We may at times need to have our agendas interrupted for the needs of others. As servants we act more and worry less, because God’s justice and love have been implanted on and in us through the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of our Lord.

As we grow as servants seeking to serve our Lord through service to others, we are conforming to God’s plan for us and less to the ways of the world around us. Our earliest gospel writer describes the beginning of the Jesus’ Galilean Ministry like this (Mark 1:14-16):

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

As we follow in the footsteps of our Risen Lord, working for justice and serving others, we continue to bring God’s Kingdom near.