Quote from Forum Archives on September 15, 2009, 11:18 am

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

 

 

 

SERVE GOD

September 13, 2009

 

 

Text: Mark 10:35-45

 

 

In case you have never noticed, Jesus had to deal with some problems.  Yes, he certainly had more than his fair share of persecution as the official religious leadership sought to shut him down and as the Roman officials kept tabs on him to make sure that his popularity did not get out of control.  Yes, he had to deal with criticism for hanging out with the wrong crowds.  And, yes, he certainly had to face the worst enemy of all time: satan.  In spite of all this adversity, though, I believe that Jesus was most disappointed when he had to deal with problems that came from his closest friends.

 

We certainly know that the disciples, every one of them, were human.  They expressed and practiced human failure on quite a few occasions.  We would like to think that by being so close to Jesus, and by being the recipients of his teaching unfiltered by any other human being, that righteousness would rub off on them.  Apparently, it didn’t.

 

In this account from the life of Jesus and his disciples, we learn that James and John ask Jesus a favor.  Their favor is to receive favoritism by being the ones to sit at Jesus’ right and left.  What that means is that they wanted to be given the position of second and third in command and in importance.  That’s quite a brazen thing to ask the Lord!  Small wonder, then, that the others were upset: “When the ten heard about this, they become indignant with James and John.” (Mark 10:41)  Fortunately for the disciples, and for us, Jesus turned such disappointing moments into teachable moments: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘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)  The mark of the Christian, as testified by Jesus, is to serve God.

 

Just as I believe that Jesus was most disappointed when he had to confront trouble among his disciples, I believe that Jesus is still disappointed when he has to confront trouble among believers.  The good news is that the New Testament is filled with instructions about how we are supposed to live and how to be good servants in the Kingdom of God.

 

Christian servants make themselves available.  2 Timothy 2:4 offers this simple directive: “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.”  In this illustration, Paul was reminding his readers that “soldiers of Christ” have to be ready to be available to God anytime.  Sometimes soldiers of the Roman Empire could get very comfortable in the places they were assigned, especially if those places were the resort areas.  They could find opportunities in civilian affairs to make supplement their income and make life easier.  While all that might matter to the soldiers entangled in civilian affairs, it did not matter to the commanding officer.  When he gave orders to deploy, he expected his men to deploy.  When he issued his orders, he expected obedience.

 

Born-again believers are to be available to God.  We give up rights to control our own life.  When God calls, He wants obedience.  That may sound difficult - even harsh - to us, but faith is trusting that God knows what is best for us.  We are given spiritual gifts from His hand.  Doesn’t it make sense, then, that He knows where and how they can be best utilized?  Christian servants make themselves available.  Are you available?

 

Christian servants pay attention to the needs of others.  As Jesus tells us, “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 10:43-45)  Jesus paid attention to the needs of others.  Since our instruction is to be like the Master, then we must also pay attention to others.  Echoing our Savior, Paul writes in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Remember a moment ago when I suggested that Jesus must become extremely disappointed when he has to confront trouble among believers?  Imagine, if you will, what a difference there might be among those who are rejecting Christ if they saw this kind of simple, genuine behavior among Christians.  Mahatma Gandhi once said that while he was greatly attracted to Christ, he was repelled by Christians.  He was still wrong to fail to believe in Jesus as the Savior, but Gandhi did see some tremendous atrocities and arrogant attitudes displayed by those who called themselves Christian.  Jesus’ disciples should not get in the way of anyone sincerely seeking to believe.  Look at Philippians 2:4: “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  It is clear throughout the Bible, and the New Testament especially, that born-again believers must pay attention to others.  This is not a responsibility delegated to a government.  It is not a responsibility delegated to certain people in a church.  Paul was writing to each and every person who read and heard his letter – “each of you.”  Every born-again believer is a Christian servant, and Christian servants pay attention to the needs of others.

 

Christian servants do the best with what they have.  Nowhere does Jesus proclaim that his disciples were equally gifted and talented.  Even among the twelve disciples, some are barely mentioned.  More than that, the most pervasive name among believers found in the New Testament was not one of the original twelve who lived and walked with Jesus!  Paul was gifted and called to do the great things he did.  But so was each and every other disciple regardless of the lack of stature in human eyes they might have had.  Jesus was adamant that the very least among his followers had great stature in the Kingdom of God.

 

So Christian servants cannot afford to sit around moping for better gifts and better talents in order to do better things.  Because we trust God, we do the best with what we have.  Those who sit around wishing otherwise get nothing done for God.  Ecclesiastes 11:4 hits us with an appropriate attitude adjustment: “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”  God does great things with the so-called “common,” or ordinary, person.  And it’s a good thing He does, because He made so many of us.  Refer again to Paul’s thought on this in 1 Corinthians 1:26: “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.”  That single sentence is something that should jump out at us.  We are actually called by the Creator Himself to engage in this privilege of divine service.  “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”  See how this shapes up?  Not one believer anywhere has to conform and shape up to anyone else’s notion of success before responding to God’s call to be a believer and a servant.  In a book about her life, Dream Big, Henrietta Mears is quoted saying, “Serving God with our little is the way to make it more; and we must never think that wasted with which God is honored or men are blest.” (Henrietta Mears in Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story.  Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 13.)  Christian servants hear God plainly and will do the best with what they have.

 

Another mark of Christian servants is to serve enthusiastically regardless of the task.  In the Kingdom of God, there are no unimportant jobs.  Addressing even slaves in Colossians 3:23-24, Paul asserts, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

 

Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated orchestra conductor, was once asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?"   Without a moment's hesitation he replied, "Second fiddle.  I can always get plenty of first violinists.  But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that's a problem!  And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony." (Ben Patterson, "A Faith Like Mary's," Preaching Today, Tape No. 87.)  Just like an orchestra that must have everyone working in tune and together in order to sound good, God needs His believers coming together and joining in the ministry opportunities that He provides us on an ongoing basis.  In a sermon earlier in the year, I remember saying that if a visitor enters the church through the east door, where there is no greeter stationed, and walks into the sanctuary not knowing what to do or where to go, you’re the greeter!  Don’t just sit there staring and wondering why that person didn’t use the right door.  Get up and go to him and help him get a seat, or get to a Sunday school class if there’s still time.  Get a bulletin.  Help him with his coat when it’s winter time.  Help him become oriented to the building.  This is the act of service that God has called you to do in that moment.

 

This is just one small example.  I like to think that no one feels out of place making another person, especially a visitor, feel welcome in this House of the Lord.  I hope that’s not the case.  Turn to Galatians 6:3.  “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”  Nothing we do with humility and sincerity in service to God will go unnoticed or unrewarded in His Kingdom.  Christian servants are to serve enthusiastically regardless of the task.

 

Christian servants are faithful to their ministry.  Continuing in Galatians 6:4-5, “Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”  Not one of us is guaranteed to remain free from being used or hurt or opposed in some way to our service in ministry.  Quite the opposite, as Jesus tells us in John 15:20: “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”  Paul was warned many times by townspeople and their officials to stop teaching about Jesus.  Paul never stopped.  He was faithful to his ministry because it was the work given to him by God.  Christian servants are faithful to their ministry.  Can you be counted on by others?

 

One of the marks of Christian service in the New Testament is joy.  There is a remarkable sense of purpose and peace exhibited by every believer in the New Testament.  If you are lacking these characteristics of joy and purpose and peace, the problem could be that you’re not serving God.  “What am I supposed to be doing?” you might be asking.  I first recommend that you ask God that question.  I mean, in sincere and earnest prayer, ask Him that question.  Listen for His answer from the Bible and from the events around you.  Most of the time, plenty of answers are available when we ask honestly and remain open to His response.  If it seems that no answer or direction is being clearly given, help out someone who is serving God.  I remember a missionary speaking to the congregation at London Bridge Baptist Church saying that doing what God wants doesn’t always mean doing something new and different.  Many times, serving God means supporting the ministries already here.

 

Every born-again believer brings either tears or joy to Jesus.  Like I said earlier, I think that Jesus still weeps when believers fail to serve him and cause problems for those who are serving him.  We need to bring joy to Jesus by living our testimony as faithful Christians serving God.  “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 10:43-45)

 

 

Rev. Charles A. Layne

First Baptist Church

PO Box 515

179 W. Broadway

Bunker Hill, IN 46914

765-689-7987

bhfbc@bhfirstbaptist.com

www.bhfirstbaptist.com

 

 

 

 

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