Serving with Joy

Happy New Year!

Something in the church Bible reading for today triggered a memory. In Mark 10, 2 of Jesus’ followers are angling to get a higher position with Jesus, trying to squeeze out everyone else. Of course, this starts a squabble among the twelve disciples and Jesus speaks to them about it.

You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. (Mark 10:42b-44)

Here is what I remembered: when I was engaged in mission work in North Africa, we would often say, “I am here to be a servant, I am here just serving the Lord!” One time a big conflict broke out with 2 or 3 local pastors. They began making harsh comments about how they viewed the missionaries and what they wanted from us. A group of us were processing the experience and praying together, when someone said, “You know, we say we are here to serve, but only when someone treats you like a servant do you know where your heart really is.”

Some of their hurtful comments were important for us to hear, while other things that were said had no truth to them. But it is all too easy for us to get our hearts and feelings hurt when we feel like others do not appreciate our values and our contributions. What are we to do in this situation?

Look to Jesus! Jesus finishes His teaching with these words:

45 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 10:45)

We look to Jesus as Lord and Master, Savior and Shepherd; what He went through, we know that we will go through as well. In these first days of a new year, let me repeat to you my sincere gratitude for your faithfulness to the Lord and how through you, we are blessed as a church. If you ever feel discouraged by others as you seek to faithfully serve and follow Jesus, keep looking to Him, in God’s Word and in your prayers. Sometimes people make us feel like servants, but we can hold our heads high, because it is only the words of our Master that matter! And as we faithfully go to God’s Word each day, pray, give, serve and love, we will one day hear Jesus say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:23)

Jamie McElrath

Senior Pastor