By Chuck Williams
Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan
Focal Passage: John 13:3-10, 14-16
Elon Musk, the world’s most famous inventor and entrepreneur, sarcastically remarked, “I don’t want to brag, but I am the best at humility.” This tongue-in-cheek remark garnered him lots of laughs but also produced a window into the human soul.
For many of us, it is our hope that our ‘humble service’ will be spot-lighted. Being a servant of Christ is not about recognition, platforming, networking or titles. He profoundly stated that He didn’t come to be served and waited on; He came to serve sacrificially (Matthew 20:28).
Let’s see what “spiritual” looks like in these verses.
Spiritual service begins with love. “Jesus loved them to the end,” (Ch. 13:1). Service done out of compulsion lacks heart and humility. It often looks for the quickest and cheapest way to take care of a need. Service rendered with love will accomplish more in a few minutes than obligation can accomplish in a lifetime. This kind of service is Scriptural, spiritual, sometimes spontaneous, and super-natural when done properly.
Chuck Williams
Spiritual service is demonstrated with action. Jesus didn’t ask for permission to have a foot washing service. He simply came in the room, set up the bowl, grabbed a towel and went to work.
Unselfish service goes against the grain of the human heart. But if service is inspired by the Holy Spirit, it will then lead to a greater manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) My life of service is my way of saying ‘thank you’ to the Lord Jesus for providing His wonderful work of redemption. If no one knows about it, that’s ok, because this world is not my permanent home.
Spiritual service seeks to stay humble: When Jesus attempted to wash Peter’s feet, Peter would have none of it. “You will never wash my feet; I am undeserving” was his plea. Jesus told Peter it was necessary in order to give an example and a teaching. The teaching was that no one is superior to another believer in their standing before God.
To the church leaders, Sunday School teachers and pastors reading this, let’s be honest. Sometimes the Lord blesses and we hit a home run.
People line up to say nice words or give a compliment. We try to stay humble, but the flesh is soaking it up and the enemy is grinning ear to ear.
Is there a still small voice saying, “Yes, what you did was good, but who was it that gave you that message or song and who was it that put the words in your mouth and opened the listener’s ears to receive it?” Be careful about who is getting the glory. Paul warned in I Corinthians 9 that even he could be disqualified for not taking the message of the cross seriously.
When we stand before the Lord to receive our just rewards, will He say “Well done!” or will He say “What have you done?”. There is a huge difference between a successful servant and a faithful servant. The faithful servant works humbly, secretly, spiritually, and gladly for God’s approval, not man’s.
So, what are we to do? Grabbing a towel and bowl is a great place to start. B&R
