I once heard a parable trying to explain the difference between heaven and hell. Imagine that in both places, there was a table set with the best pot of stew imaginable. But there was one requirement: you could only use a long spoon for each person.
Do you know the difference between the approach of those in heaven verse hell?
The group in hell did all they could to make the spoon full of stew reach into their hungry mouths, but they grew more and more frustrated as there was no way to finagle the spoon into their mouths.
The group in heaven, however, took a different approach. Instead of focusing on themselves, they used the long spoon to serve those sitting across the table. In this way, everyone was fed and satisfied!
While not biblically accurate in its description of heaven or hell, the parable highlights two radically different approaches to life. We all have needs, but when we focus exclusively on ourselves, we all miss out. However, when we focus on serving one another, we all end up receiving what we need. This is how God has established his kingdom to work.
We know that Jesus did not come to this earth to be served. He came to serve and give his life for us on the cross to meet our most profound and most significant need of forgiveness of sin and extend to us the gift of eternal life. But Scripture goes further than proclaiming what Christ did for us. It calls us to follow in his footsteps and serve as he served.
Philippians 2:3-7 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant."
Jesus cares not only about our relationship with him but our relationship with one another.
Think about the cross for a moment. The cross not only extends vertically from the earth to the sky to reconcile us to God but horizontally to reconcile us to one another. Jesus's arms were stretched out wide not only to bring us to God but to bring us together as brothers and sisters in Christ despite our differences. We are now called to serve one another as Jesus served us.
So, what does it mean and look like for us to serve as Jesus would serve? I lead an international mission organization called ServeNow (www.weservenow.org). This is the question that fuels us every day. We want to serve as Jesus would serve! And while many examples could be given, I would like to highlight 7 from Scripture.
1). Serving as Jesus would serve means we serve in a variety of ways.
What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said, Rabbi, I want to see (Mark 10:51).
Jesus came for one primary purpose, but he served in many ways depending on the person, the need, the desire, the faith, the situation, and his Father's will. At times he taught the crowds. Other times he physically fed the masses. He preached to the many, but he also poured his life into the few close followers. He also cast out demons, healed the sick, worked miracles, and restored people's worth and dignity. He rebuked the Pharisees while speaking tenderly to the broken. He called out the proud while extending grace to the humble. He was friends with sinners and tax collectors. He met people where they were and brought about God's kingdom in their lives.
Serving as Jesus would serve means, we must meet people where they are and serve them according to their need and what we see our Father doing. Our job is to be attentive to the working of God and the needs of people. There is no formula for serving as Jesus served. There is only his example, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the awareness of where our Father is at work in people's lives and how we wants us to participate with him.
Sometimes people need a word of comfort and encouragement. Other times they need wisdom and counsel. Others may need correction or rebuke. Others need our prayers. Some require us to show kindness in serving in various ways or through financial generosity.
2). Serving as Jesus served means we serve holistically.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come (Luke 4:18-19).
Have you ever heard people talking about "winning souls" to the Lord? While evangelism is a noble and needed task, and this expression is common in talking about bringing people to salvation in Christ, God cares about more than just our souls. He cares about us as people in all dimensions of our lives.
As his Holy Spirit fills you, he will lead you to specific people who are poverty-stricken or struggling with life in bondage. Some people we meet are hurting emotionally or physically or may not know where they are spiritually and do not know where to turn to get help.
As Jesus cared for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those he met, we can learn to care for people and serve them as Jesus served. Jesus served holistically, tending to people's physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
3). Serving as Jesus served means we serve compassionately.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Compassion and love for people motivated Jesus in everything that he did. And it is not only about feelings; it is about action. God chose to send His Son as a sacrifice on our behalf. His death on the cross was an act of God's compassion! Compassion always leads to action – when we unselfishly reach out to help a person in need. A simple kind act: a prayer, words of support, a sandwich, a warm blanket, forgiveness – these things can all make a massive difference in someone's day.
I challenge your attitudes and actions today to become motivated in ministering to people with compassion and be a representative for Jesus Christ to them. Start right where you are and pray that God will lead you to step by step to those in desperate need of love and compassion. In his presence, you will find all the strength and perseverance for serving others. And he will equip you with everything you need when you become his representative on this earth.
4). Serving as Jesus served means we must serve selflessly.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13).
One of the most significant markers of "serving like Jesus served" is humility. The God of the Universe came to earth to serve and sacrifice himself for his creation versus taking his rightful position to be served, loved, and adored.
Our natural default is to pursue self-glory, self-promotion, and self-protection. Simply, we are selfish. To serve as Jesus served, we are called to follow his example of being free of selfish desires and become a "slave" to the needs of those around us. Did you know the word neighbor has the connotation of “to draw near?” To be a neighbor means that wherever we are, with whoever is around, we draw near to meet their needs. We consider others, not just ourselves. This is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The early church understood the characteristic of humility and how it set the follower of Christ apart from the world. The church father Augustine said, "Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself; the latter in the Lord."
To serve like Jesus served, put on humility (Colossians 3:12) and become a servant to God first and then to those around you.
5). Serving as Jesus Served means, we must serve graciously.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked (Luke 6:35).
This is a hard one! But perhaps more than any other way of serving others, this one most reflects the very heart of God and the core of the Gospel message.
Human nature dictates that we only love the people who will return the favor and hurt those who will hurt us. In this Scripture, Jesus is instructing his followers to showcase God's grace to the world. Loving our friends is easy. But Jesus calls us to love our enemies and do good to them while expecting nothing in return, just as he loved us while we were sinners. We are admonished that if we only love those that love us in return, there is no heavenly reward.
The good news is that this unnatural behavior is possible. We only need to rely upon Jesus to so fill our hearts so that we can share God's love and grace. We can also ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve even those who oppose and despitefully use us. It is when we do this that we exhibit the characteristics of the children of God.
6). To serve as Jesus served, we must be intentional.
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me (John 12:26).
Have you ever followed someone when you did not know where you were going? Every turn can feel unexpected and, depending on the surroundings, potentially treacherous. The hymn, All the Way My Savior Leads Me, written by Fanny Crosby, reflects similar feelings. Fanny knew well the uncertainty of attempting to follow another – Fanny was blind most of her life.
To serve as Jesus served requires the perseverance to follow Jesus wherever he is leading. We must be aware of his activity and intentional in our actions. Scripture says, Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Colossians 4:5).
7). To serve as Jesus served, we must take time for people.
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us! Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked (Matthew 20:31-32).
Have you ever known someone who was always too busy or important for others? Maybe sometimes you have even given off that impression because your schedule and life are so full.
One of the things I love about Jesus is that he always had time for people while he was wholly focused on his mission. As he went on his way, he did not see people in need as distractions. Instead, he saw people as his mission and situations like this as divine opportunities!
Sometimes we get so busy, focused on the tasks we need to fulfill, the responsibilities we have, and our own agenda that we see people as interruptions versus opportunities to serve and allow God to intervene in people's lives. When this happens, we lose sight that Jesus has called us to serve people, and our ministry is people.
Jesus did not just serve when he "arrived" to where he was going. He served people as he went along his way! He did not just keep going. He stopped. He took time for people. He delayed his own plans to serve others in need. To serve as Jesus would serve, we, too, must be open to more spontaneous opportunities than what we might have planned.
These are only a few ways Jesus served. Read through the Gospel accounts and note your own discoveries of how Jesus served. You can also go through a 30-day devotional put out by ServeNow called "Serve as Jesus Would Serve," where these 7 examples are highlighted, among more ways. Order your copy now: https://weservenow.org/books/30-day-devotional/
