“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Matthew 20:28 NIV)

            “To serve” means to voluntarily act for the benefit of others out of love, humility, and desire, rather than acting out of duty or for personal gain.  It is a selfless action.  Jesus showed that true leadership was about servanthood.

           An example of this is found in John 13:4-6.  Jesus begins washing the disciples’ feet.  Peter’s initial response was to denial Jesus from washing his feet.  But Jesus explains to Peter that this act is an example of how we are to serve one another, not to be served.  

           So how does this pertain to you?  You want others to take care of you because you would rather do what you want to do, not what needs to be done.  You would rather watch TV than clean the house.  You would rather scroll down your phone than cook dinner.  You would rather go shopping than go to work.  You would rather listen to music than do the laundry.  You would rather have someone bring you a drink rather than get up and get it yourself. Your priorities are on “self” not others.

You are at work and you are asked to get toilet paper in the bathroom because there isn’t any, there is a client coming in and you are asked to wash the front door windows to make it look nice, one of your weekly chores is to do the dishes in the lunch area, but you are too important to do these jobs, for it is beneath you.  You are not a servant.  It is someone else’s job, not yours.  You want to be served, rather than serve others.

           Serving others is a conscious choice that fosters a sense of purpose and personal growth.  This selfless approach, often called “servant leadership” focuses on others not “self”. It sets a positive example for others to follow, creating a ripple effect of kindness.  It helps to move from a “me” to thinking of others first.

Maybe, if we started to rethink how we acted.  Understanding what Jesus meant—it is better to serve than to be served.  We just might make an impact on those around us.  For every action, interaction, and word we share with others acts like ripples in a pond, creating a lasting impact on their lives and perspectives.  It is something to think about.  God Bless. Amen.

denise