The Search For Significance

One of the most-quoted statements from the pen of Paul comes from the remarkable upbeat letter to the Philippians. He wrote, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (1:21). He had completely neutralized himself on the issue of life or death. He had a preference, but whatever would best serve his Lord and contribute to his all-consuming aim would be the deciding factor. Who am I? What am I doing here? What is my mission? These and other introspective questions need to be asked and answered. The puzzle of life will never be solved for us until we come to grips with the issue of "an all-consuming aim."

YOU MUST BE WILLING TO BE A SERVANT

The second principle for a Christian In the search for significance Is a willingness to be a servant. This principle runs counter to the philosophy and practices of the world. In this world the status of a person is measured by the number of people who serve him, rather than the number he serves. A really great person by this world’s standards will never need to do anything for himself, not to mention doing something for someone else.

For a model of this principle, look again at Jesus. "Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:27-28, NKJV). Jesus did not Insist on a principle for His followers that He himself would not observe. The servant principle is epitomized In the incarnation of Christ. "Being in the form of God, [Jesus] did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:6-9, NKJV). Jesus, who was God, became man, the servant. No height of greatness nor depth of servant hood will ever match, or even come close, to the model of the Master.

The Master becoming a servant was illustrated in the last Passover Feast Jesus shared with His disciples. Jesus drank from the common cup with them and washed their feet. "[Jesus] rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water Into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. . . . If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet" (John 13:4, 5, 14; NKJV). The true leader, the genuinely significant person, must become willing to serve. The world cannot comprehend the validity of this principle. A Master washing the feet of a slave is unthinkable; yet this is exactly what Jesus teaches us to do.

In Luke 22:27 Jesus announced, "I am among you as he that serveth." If you want to be significant, you must do the hard, dirty work of serving your fellowman. Why is there a shortage of truly significant people in the world today? The answer is simple: It costs too much! As long as we cling to the standards of the world, we will be no better than mediocre.