When you visit Chick-fil-A™, if you sy, “Thank you,” to an employee the response will be - "my pleasure." Sources tell me that the practice dates back to 2001 when founder, Truett Cathy, noticed a Ritz-Carlton employee respond to his thanks with "my pleasure." He liked the gesture and believed that customers would also appreciate it, so he asked Chick-fil-A employees to adopt the phrase. It is now a mark of the brand! Yes, I know, that response is programmed, not necessarily the true feeling of that person who is serving a chicken sandwich.
But, we can, as Christians, experience a change of heart and
mind that causes us to feel real joy when we have the opportunity to serve
others. It is the Word and it is true!
Do you find joy and satisfaction in acts of service?
Jesus taught us a new way to live, asking us to set aside our selfish desires for the joy of serving. It was the night before He went to the Cross. He was full of sorrow and His friends were fighting among themselves about their importance, who was the greatest! Gathered for the Passover, they had walked through the dirty streets and were now ready to eat and no one would make the move to wash the grime from their feet before dinner. Usually this task was relegated to the household servant of least senority, but there were no servants there in the Upper Room! Not one of those men were willing to take that low place so Jesus did and in the process He taught them (and us) a vivid lesson in serving.
"Jesus
knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come
from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his
outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured
water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the
towel that was wrapped around him." (John 13:3-5, NIV) "When he had finished washing their feet,
he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have
done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly
so, for that is what I am.
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." (John 13:12-16, NIV)
Let’s not wrongly interpret His message. He is not setting aside roles of leadership or authority. He acknowledged that He was rightfully their “Lord and teacher.” “Do as I have done” the Master said inviting those of us who follow Him to serve in true humility, without calculating the return or creating a debt in the one served. We do what we are able to do, where we are, whenever a need presents itself to us, just because we are able. Nothing will develop humility in us more effectively than the daily choice to be a servant- in our family, in our circle of friends, our casual acquaintances, and in the wider community in which we live. The phrase ‘it’s not my job’ is one we should never let pass our lips or even occupy a place in our thoughts.
Consider these challenging thoughts penned by William Law in
the 18th century. “Condescend to all the weaknesses and
infirmities of your fellow creatures, cover their frailties, love their
excellencies, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their
prosperity, be compassionate in their distress, receive their friendship,
overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, be a servant of servants,
condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind.”
The language may be awkward to our ears but the thoughts are even
more difficult for us in our age which values radical Self-fulfillment above
all else.
Naturally we might object to the call of service saying,
“But, if I do that, people will walk all over me.” Honestly, they might!
But, servants do not hold onto self-will, choosing when, where, and how they
serve. They are servants, not merely acting as one. When we receive Christ, we become servants -
of God and others! We surrender the desire for power, for rank or position,
for recognition, and even equality.
Our model is none other than Jesus
Himself. “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, NIV)
So, how can we serve? In no special order, let me mention some practical ways that illustrate the servant’s mindset.
*We learn to listen! People love to tell us
their stories, inviting us to care for them, admire them, recognize them.
Frankly, sometimes that can be tiresome especially if you have heard the
stories before, or want to rush along to the end so you can get on your way.
We serve when we patiently listen, taking an interest, responding appropriately
with encouragement.
*We do the ordinary stuff! It is tempting to think that we will serve in the BIG moments, when it ‘really matters.’ The truth is unless we have learned to pick up the piece of garbage in the parking lot, hang up the towel our spouse dropped on the floor again, go to work without complaint, love the obnoxious fool who lives next door … we will not respond well when our parents age and require our care, our spouse becomes gravely ill and needs basic care, or our child requires our support when their life goes to wreckage. Self-obsessed people do not change overnight. We learn to serve in the ordinary, unseen, little stuff of everyday life.
*We choose to elevate not tear down! Common
courtesy is a form of service that we can adopt. Refusing to join in tearing
another person down serves that person, even when she is not present to the
conversation. Giving a push of encouragement to one who is weary or
discouraged shows a gentle and serving spirit in us. Those disciples who
joined Jesus for the Last Supper made the mistake of thinking that serving
another would diminish their own position.
*We stand with those who suffer! The natural temptation of humanity is to retreat from pain, to join the party with laughter and run from the place of tears. We serve when we set aside that preference and care for those in pain, without blaming them for their place, correcting them, or even offering unsolicited advice. What an act of service to communicate - “I’m here for you. I care for you. I will share your hurt, your pain, your sorrow.” It may sound simple, but I assure you that it is not a natural choice. True servants engage not just with words, but with their whole being, seeking to stand alongside, not to fix the other person. The Word says "Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law." (Galatians 6:2, The Message)
Love is shown in service offered willingly, from a place of
humility. And, living in that love, we
will find joy to full, the smile of our Heavenly Father and His welcome home
with these words: “Well done, good and
faithful servant. Enter the joy of the Master’s house.”
Here is a word from the Word. Let’s allow this wisdom to shape our choices today and always. "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right." (James 2:8, NIV)
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(Video of this blog at this link)
Make me a servant humble and meek
Lord let me lift up those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant make me a servant
Make me a servant today
Kelly Willard
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