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JOY IN HUMBLE SERVICE

SCRIPTURE READINGS

ISAIAH 53: 4-12

HEBREWS 5:1-10 

MARK 10:35-45 

The theme for our reflection is “Joy in humble service”. Joy in humble service is the satisfaction we derive in service rendered without selflessly. We derive joy in humble service because it glorifies God and seeks the development and betterment of society. Christianity is the religion of selfless service, for Christ himself is an embodiment of selfless or humble service and He is the only perfect example for all believers to follow. We shall discuss the following points about selfless service:  

1. Joy in humble service is a way of life for a Christian and Jesus is the perfect example. 

2. God rewards selfless or humble service with eternal joy.   

Firstly, joy in humble service is a way of life for a Christian. Anyone who believes in Jesus as His Lord and Saviour derive joy in humbly serving the Lord. The life of selfless or humble 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 or humble 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. We derive joy through humble and selfless servant leadership.

A servant-leader 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 or joy for occupying a position of authority or leadership? 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, 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 or joy in seeking a higher position or office should entirely be motivated by the perfect example of Jesus which is humility in serving others.

The joy we derive in humble 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, and donating funds for Evangelism and missionary activity to promote the Gospel and the growth of the church are all examples of humble services every Christian should do joyfully. 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 and humble services we can render to please God as Christians in our communities and the nation.  

Secondly, we learn from Jesus’ earthly life that, anyone who serves God humbly is rewarded with greatness and is elevated by God physically and spiritually. These are the content of the joy we derive in humble service.  Isaiah points to this fact when he said  “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-emphasised the fact that the joy of humble service is 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 and humble service therefore be greatly encouraged to serve humbly to the end of your life on earth. It can be discouraging and disheartening when you give your best through selfless and humble service yet people become ungrateful and rather despise you for your sacrifice and humble 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 encouraged and assured 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 humble service will not be in vain, have faith and persevere to the end for the sake of Christ, for your joy, greatness and elevation await you. Paul also inspires us to serve selflessly and humbly to receive our reward when He wrote to Timothy, “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 summary, beloved in the Lord, joy in humble 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 and humble service is to please God and to see our fellow human beings prosper. God in His own perfect will and time will reward us with joy and greatness and elevate us for His glory.