S27P3 – The servant’s heart: service to the Lord
Matt. 25:34-36
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’”
A friend of mine recently told me a story about a hotel manager interviewing new candidates. Two particular candidates came in for a high-level position and were sitting in the lobby waiting to be called into his office. While they were waiting, a hotel employee came by to offer them water. One candidate graciously declined the offer, but the other candidate dismissed the employee. This happened not once but twice. The manager noticed this and immediately addressed the candidate who had been dismissive toward his staff. He told him that he could not hire someone who did not have equal respect and consideration for all people regardless of their position. You see, to this manager, disrespecting even the lowest level employee of his staff was no different than disrespecting him. This is how Jesus Christ views the children of God, his brothers and sisters.
In today’s verse, Jesus raises a point that perhaps we often fail to consider. When we are serving other people, we must think of how we would act if we were instead serving our Lord. This is similar to the command in scripture that we are to do all things as if we are doing them unto the Lord. We do not always know who is or one day will become a follower of Jesus Christ. We cannot determine who is a member of God’s royal priesthood. If I am to serve my brothers and sisters as though I’m serving our Savior, the wise choice is to serve everyone in that way. This is because showing love to the Lord’s brothers and sisters is showing love to the Lord. When we help those who are suffering in ways that Jesus Christ suffered here on Earth, we are helping him. If you help me in my time of need and feed me and clothe me, you are feeding and clothing the Lord. Caring for God’s children is caring for his Son.
The true servant’s heart desires to serve with everything it has. If we were tasked with serving at the literal feet of Jesus Christ, we certainly would serve with everything we have. Imagine the excellence with which we would live our lives individually and corporately if we did all things as if unto the Lord. We should give to those in need as if we are giving to the Lord in need. We should help those in trouble as if we are helping the Lord during his trouble. No one wants to hear from our Savior that we did not come to his aid when he asked. We want to hear that we took care of Jesus by taking care of his brothers and sisters. Father, thank You that You allow us to serve our Savior by serving those who follow him, and give us a desire to do so joyfully.