Whatever It Takes

Whatever it takes

Jerry and Karen, friends for more than 30 years, serve as missionaries with our denomination. When they are in the States, they often live in our home for an extended time. They are an inspiration! They give the gift of encouragement wherever they go, just doing whatever it takes to serve.  A couple of years ago, while here in NJ, Jerry learned of a brewing crisis in the national church in one of the island nations that fall under his region of ministry.  Without complaint, he scheduled flights to travel halfway ‘round the world to give leadership to that group for two days! They offer training and support to other missionaries living in the small islands scattered across the Pacific, spending days on end in airports far from home.  When they are living in our home, I’ll often find them trimming in the yard or cooking up supper.  They make their calling look easy because they embrace it with such joy, found in utter surrender of themselves.

Jesus teaches us a strange paradox – losing our life is the way to find it, giving away our ourselves makes us rich. “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." (Mark 8:34-35, NLT)  His invitation is met with the assertion that in order to be joyful and whole, we must assert ourselves and bend our world to our expectations.  So, we fiercely protect our rights.  “Don’t take my time. Don’t step into my yard. Don’t ask me to move too far in understanding your needs.”  Even Christians often wrap self-centeredness in psychological language of self-protection.  And, they lose the blessing that can only be discovered in surrender of Self totally to Christ as Lord, expressed in ordinary daily care for others.  The two ways of life cannot co-exist!  Jesus is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.

Becoming a true servant who gives whatever it takes should not be confused with the martyr’s mantle worn by some who make sure everyone knows just how they are giving up, how deeply they are suffering! The Bible says that Jesus served ‘for the joy that was set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2) When He heard the men around Him fighting over position and power, He said, “You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28, NLT)

How do we become Christians who are willing to do whatever it takes and make it look easy?  We must first kneel before the Cross of Christ and give away all illusions that we can save ourselves. Only in Him do we receive the gift of the Spirit that begins the inner transformation towards holy living.  Then, we choose the way of service, practicing humility with the discipline of service. This is more than simply holding back our desire to lift up ourselves. Instead, we willingly submit ourselves to the ordinary, seeing picking up trash on the street, our kids’ dirty socks, as a means of seeing Christ’s work done in us. There are many  "little deaths" that we die as we live sacrificially.  Frankly, living a life of true service is more difficult than martyrdom.  A martyr may find glory, a servant seldom does. A martyr is released from his life to his reward. A servant keeps on giving.  The wonder of it all is that if we stop complaining, if we stop defending our honor, if we simply serve – our spouse, our kids, our friends, our enemies – in the Name of Christ Jesus; grace overflows and we find joy that makes others think it’s easy!

Here’s a word from the Word. If you want real joy consider this high calling and ask Christ to lead you through the school of service – giving whatever it takes to accomplish the work of extending His rule in this world.

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:14-17, NIV).