Sermon On A Life In Service

Max De Pree, an American businessman and writer once remarked: “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” Philippians 2:5-7 reminds us: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

A servant is defined as a person who regularly performs duties for others, especially someone employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant. For the rich or noble, servants have always been commonplace. They are frequently engaged in the arduous or repetitive menial duties of life which may include a multitude of tasks such as waiting at table, washing clothes or bodily parts, ironing, cleaning, cooking, etc. The list is endless. Their usage dates back many centuries and often was not always defined by color or creed.

It has been said that some are born to lead and others to serve. But what is considered the more important role? The Bible informs us that Jesus Christ regarded Himself as a servant, and yet there was no one of more importance than Him. If an earthly existence of God can wash and cleanse the feet of His disciples, to what measure of servility does that suggest? John 13:1-17 reminds us: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.

He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Service often requires two important characteristics of life. These primarily functionalize the existential virtues and foundational values of humility and sacrifice. Both require strong and sustainable elements to perform well and require placing less importance on the values of oneself by transferring that worth into the fulfillment of others. This can increase discernment and appreciation of the true benefits of God. It was one of the prime objectives in the ministry of Jesus Christ, to bring more knowledge and understanding through service of the true rewards of a new life with God. Revelation 2:1-5 reminds us: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”