My daughter is 3-years old and it is a joy to watch her grow up. Lately I have noticed how insistant she is on letting others know what is hers. She will tell you that our dog is only her dog or that the TV is only hers.
I know at this age it is innocent selfishness. However, my wife and I will spend the next twenty or so years trying to teach her to not be selfish and instead become a servant (with many sucesses and failures I am sure). The irony is that my wife and I are still learning how to be servants rather than self-serving people. And then there are scome Christians who just seem to be very complacent with their selfish motivations.
If Richard Dawkins, a professed atheist, can dawn an “Atheist for Jesus” t-shirt because he believes Jesus’ approach to living (self-sacrificial service) is right, why do so many Christians struggle with this?
In John 13, Jesus embraces humiliation and self-sacrificial service to show his disciples true love and friendship by washing their feet (and even to his betrayer, Judas). Then he says:
“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. Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13.12-17, TNIV)
Do we understand? We think God is really interested in our arguments that iron out the most minute details of doctrine regarding Christian worship and the church. Is God really that interested in such arguments? Hmmn… Thursday evening before the Passover where Jesus knows he will be arrested, tried, falsely convicted, and crucified to death before being raised in glory and what lesson did he take the time to teach his disciples but the alternative way of life — becoming a self-sacrificial servant.
Now that is a lesson I struggle to understand, let along do. May we help each other get on board with what is of most importance and help each other to become disciples, self-sacrificial servants just as Jesus.
