We live in a world where we want to have things our way. This is one of the reasons why the Burger King chain's "Have it your way" slogan was used successfully for 40 years. We love to have things our way! Frank Sinatra retired after his final hit song "My way". I'm showing my age now!
Over the years, our society has become increasingly self-centered. They determine what is good by how it personally affects them. Being served has become a status symbol for everyone to see how "important" or "essential" they are. Today, even employees have a list of requirements that they expect their employer to manage. Many expect their working hours to be flexible, the employer to supply a meal, have child care, a gym to relieve stress, a safe space when they feel emotional, the list goes on and on.
Even the church is not exempt today. Most congregants expect to gather in a clean and comfortable building, for the worship music to be "professionally" anointed. They expect to be "fed" spiritually with a great sermon from a well-known and respected teacher. They expect child care(baby sitting) for their young children. They want freedom without accountability, becoming consumers without responsibility. They want to be encouraged without being challenged. They expect a "feel good" experience before they leave each week and try to hold on to it until they do it all over again the following week.
To say it simply, many people feel that the world revolves around them and that everything was created for them. They are the center of their own universe. So, the question is "How is that working out for them?" Obviously, not to well. Quarreling and actual fighting are on the rise. Unhappiness and depression are on the rise. Selfishness and independent living is on the rise. Families are separating at a record pace. Church attendance is down. Bottom line...it's not working!
This was never God's design or intent for his people. Jesus is and always has been the center of the universe. Everything revolves around Him. We were put on this earth to love and serve God as well as others. Jesus, when He came to the earth in human form, gives us insight into our purpose on earth. He said:
"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
So if Jesus, the Son of God came to earth with the intent to serve and not be served. To be the greatest in God's eyes is to be the servant of all!
"And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all". Mark 9:35
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13-14
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ... 1 Peter 4:10-11
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross Philippians 2:3-8
"God wants us to resemble His son. When we show up at a gathering are we looking to serve or be served? God promises that those who give the most will be blessed. Takers are the most miserable people on earth. It is our inability to take our eyes off ourselves and put them on others that destroys us. The most humble people are typically the happiest." - Francis Chan (Letters to the Church)
We are all extremely gifted by God. We want to use our gifts in the service of others, building one another up.
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