Improving Your Serve
“Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Service?
Matthew 20:20-28
It would be safe to say this morning that things have really changed at the gas pump. Prices have changed greatly. I pay about 75.00 every time I fill up my truck. When I first started driving i remember there was a gas war going on and I could but gas for 18 cents a gallon. 18 cents. I remember i was driving a little subaru that got about 40 mpg. I could put 2.00 worth of gas in that car and drive all weekend.
But more than prices have changed. Most of us can remember when a gas station was called a service station. And that’s what you got....service. When you pulled in you would run over a hose that would sound a bell to let them know they had a customer. The attendants would come out, one would wash your windshield, one would check oil, your radiator, put air in your tires and then pump gas for you. You never ever had to get out of your car if you didn’t want to. But now everything is modern. You pull in, get out, pump you gas, clean your own windows, pay right at the pump and then leave without speaking to a single person. Whatever happened to old fashioned service?
Things have changed at the grocery store. One of the first jobs I had was bagging groceries then carrying them out to the car and putting them inside. At one store where I worked people would call in and give you their grocery order over the phone, we would then get a cart and do their shopping for them, ring them up, bag them and then deliver them right to their front door. Whatever happened to service?
Things have also changed at church. And I am afraid that service has turned into serve-us.
Now Jesus has some important things to say about this thing called service. In the first gospel we find these words ... Matthew 20:20-28. In the first part of this chapter Jesus shared a parable about some men who were hired to work in a vineyard. Some came to work early in the day and some came late in the day. The landowner decided to pay everyone the same amount. Now you can imagine perhaps that those who worked all day and got the same pay as those who worked only an hour would be less than happy. Jesus finished this teaching by giving us these words. V. 16. So the last will be first and the first will be last. Now to me this is where the water hits the wheel. Let me ask you a question. If you showed up for work at 8:00 and then someone else showed up at 3:00 and then you both got paid the same amount at 5:00 how many of you would be upset about that? You see we are a whole lot like these early followers. Their attitude toward service needed correction and so does ours.
So I want to give you an assignment to day in 4 parts. (1) Before you serve, check your motives. Vv. 20-21. Motives can get all mixed up. This woman’s name was Salome and she was the aunt of Jesus. This had to be one proud lady. Hey this is my nephew Jesus .. by the way He can walk on water and He’s the savior of the world. She comes to Jesus with great respect, bows down and then asks a favor–would you grant that one of these two sons of mine sit at your right hand and the other at your left in the kingdom?
I see this as a mom who just wanted the best for her kids. You know if your kids have to sit somewhere why not sit at the head table? But I think for James and John that their motives were out of focus. They wanted to be higher than anyone else. Let me ask you when you serve God what is your motive/reason? When Jesus is confronted with her mixed up motives Jesus asks her a question. And the reason for His question is very clear. Jesus wants to cut through and get to the real issue. What is it you want? Why are you doing this? Who are you trying to impress? Check your motives when you serve.
(2) When you serve, expect difficulty/problems. After Salome makes this bold request Jesus seemed to respond in a rather blunt fashion. He says, “you don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? Jesus was basically saying you don’t have a clue what you’re asking. The cup as you know was a symbol of suffering. Matthew 26:39. It’s interesting though that her 2 sons, James and John were actually standing there but for some reason they didn’t ask the question. But they did have a very quick answer. With complete confidence they replied, “we can.” So Jesus says you will indeed drink from a cup. You’re going to get the glory but you need to be ready for some grief.
None of us know in advance how much difficulty we might have when we choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Paul said in Philip. 1:29 “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” All of the early disciples suffered because of their service to Christ. So write this down. If you’re serious about serving then be prepared to suffer. Some of the apostles like James were martyred early in life ... John died late in life. We don’t know when we will be called to go home to be with Christ but Jesus is saying here that the thing that matters is that we remain faithful to the end. You see you may be one of those this morning who has given up on serving the Lord. Let someone else do it. It’s too hard. It’s somebody else’s turn. Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Paul is saying expect some problems but don’t let those problems/difficulties move you away from service.
(3) When you serve put others first. This is the 3rd step in becoming a true servant. You have to put others first. Vv. 24 ff. Now in case you’re wondering how the other ten felt when they saw that James and John were trying to grab these positions of power then look at verse 24. Indignant means to be greatly afflicted. But I think that what they were really mad about is that these two got to Jesus first before they did. The attitude of the ten was not any better than the attitude of the first two. It’s called selfishness. And selfishness results in dissension. Write this down. One of the best things we can do together as a church is to serve together. A church that serves together stays together.
Well Jesus sees this dissension taking place so He does what any good shepherd does– He calls them all together. Like a quarterback calling his team to a huddle ... guys please come here. Let’s form a circle. We’re in this together. Listen to what He says to them. Vv. 25ff. This is the difference between servanthood and management. The world teaches that we should spend all our energy to get to the top and then when we get there we can tell everyone else what to do. Jesus then says in v. 26 “but it should not be this way with you.” As a follower of Christ you must not operate like this. He was saying it must not be like this. Please write this down. In the family of God there is only one category of leaders. Here it is. Servants. We are all servants. Vv. 26-27. So if you want to be a leader you have to first become a servant. Now what is that? A servant is someone whose heart is intent upon and whose will is bound to the will and wishes of someone else. If I am your servant then what you say goes. You have the last word. So if God says jump our only response should be how high? If you really want to be truly great then there are some things you must give up.
4. When you serve follow the example of Jesus. Jesus is our role model. Look at v. 28. Jesus came to earth for several reasons. In Luke 19 He says I came to seek and to save those who are lost. Then in v. 28 here we see the other reason. He said I did not come to be served—I came to serve.
Have you ever noticed how these conversations with Jesus don’t usually turn out the way they thought they would?
to the young man who wanted more and more jesus said of you want more then you must lose what you already have.
if you want to receive then you must learn to give.
if you want to be great then you must become a servant.
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, who died recently, once appeared on the cover of their annual report dressed in a knee length apron holding a mop and a plastic bucket. Here’s how he described that picture: “I got am MBA long before I got my GED. He said at Wendy’s MBA doesn’t mean Masters of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude. Dave Thomas got his MBA from following the model of our Master.
