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SELFLESS SERVICE  

ISAIAH 53: 4-12 

HEBREWS 5:1-10 

MARK 10:35-45 

The theme for our reflection is selfless service. Selfless service is service rendered without any expectation of a reward or selfish ambition. It is purely done to glorify God and to seek the development and betterment of people and society at large. Christianity is the religion of selfless service, for Christ himself is an embodiment of selfless service and He is the only perfect example for all believers to follow in the achievement of selfless service. We shall discuss the following points about selfless service:  

Firstly, selfless service is a way of life for a Christian. Anyone who believes in Jesus as His Lord and Saviour has also accepted to live a life of selfless service. The life of selfless service is what differentiates Christians or believers from all other people in the World. It was for this reason Jesus stressed the importance of selfless service as a standard for greatness when He said to His disciples “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45). Jesus’ teaching is directly opposite to the worldly understanding of authority and leadership. The worldly person feels exerting his or her authority and commanding people here and there to serve him or her is what greatness is about but Jesus teaches us that if we wish to change the world through Him then we must be servant-leaders.  

A servant-leaders lives an entirely selfless and sacrificial life. This was the picture painted about Jesus in Isaiah 53: 4-6, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,  yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,  he was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on him,  and by his wounds, we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him  the iniquity of us all.” In other words, this is the perfect example of Jesus which we must follow. My dear friend, what is your motivation for occupying a position of authority? Why do you want to become a pastor, a catechist, a presbyter, a member of parliament, a president or a chief in our community? Why do you want to become the Managing Director of your company? Why do you want to be promoted to a higher rank at your office? If the sole purpose is to become powerful and to earn a huge salary and have your allowances increased in addition to a bungalow and a car then you have missed the mark as a follower of Christ. A Christian’s ambition for seeking a higher position or office should entirely be motivated by the perfect example of Jesus which is selfless service. It should be noted that a selfless service is an act of faith because it is service rendered to please God and not for your personal ambitions and enrichment. Jesus admonishes us in Matthew 6: 30-35 that “…you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

Selfless service is not limited to servant-leadership but also relates to the general and essential services we render to God in the Church and the community in which we live. Taking up tasks such as reading the Scripture during worship services, cleaning the chapel, donating funds for Evangelism and missionary activity to promote the Gospel and the growth of the church are all examples of selfless services every Christain should engage in. Christians must participate in clean-up exercises and ensure that our environment is clean. Abiding by the laws in the country and helping to maintain order and security are all examples of selfless services we can render to please God as Christians in our communities and Nation.  

Secondly, we learn from Jesus’ earthly life that, anyone who serves God Selflessly is rewarded with greatness and is elevated by God physically and spiritually.  Isaiah again points to this fact when he said that “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12).  Again Hebrews 5: 6-10 also re-emphasise the fact that selfless service leads to greatness and elevation when the writer wrote that “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” 

Beloved in the Lord, God rewarded Jesus’ selfless service therefore continue to serve selflessly to the end of your life on earth. It can be discouraging and disheartening when you give your best through selfless serve yet people become ungrateful and rather despise you for your sacrifice and selfless service. Always keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus knew that we shall face all these challenges when following His footsteps therefore He promised us that “… I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18).  Jesus again encourages and assures us in Matthew 5:11-12 that “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” My dear friend, be rest assured that your suffering, sacrifice and self-service will not be in vain, have faith and persevere to the end for the sake of Christ, for your greatness and elevation awaits you. Paul also inspires us to serve selflessly to receive our reward when He wrote to Timothy that “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

In conclusion beloved in the Lord, selfless service is not a one-time act but a way of life for which Jesus is our perfect example. Let us always remember that the only motive for selfless service is to please God and to see our fellow human beings prosper, as we serve selflessly, God in His own perfect will and time will make us great and elevate us for His glory. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to remain selfless servants of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)