Service - 30 November 2009

But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.  And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.  The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.  Matthew 23: 8-12 [NIV]

I re-read these words recently.  I knew they were there in the gospels but I had somehow forgotten perhaps because this verse is one of those that a lot of people have trouble with.  Our whole society is founded on leadership, even in our churches the higher the status, the more privilege that goes with it and there are more people to serve you.  The Catholic Church calls it’s ministers ‘Father’ and ‘Teacher’ is a ministry description in many churches.  The word Rabbi meant teacher, usually someone who had a particular knowledge or speciality in a certain area of the law.  How do we then rediscover the ministry of service and humility that Jesus taught us to have?

Maybe it is just an attitude of mind.  The servant sees that it is his job to be of service, he gets paid (rewarded) for that service but the slave sees service as his life, his life depends on it.  There is a difference between the words used in the Greek (diakonos and doulos) the second is someone who gives up their will to serve.

When AA founders Bill W and Dr Bob first began their journey into recovery from alcoholism, even before meetings happened and the 12 steps were formulated they discovered that their recovery depended on one thing alone.  That was the concept of helping others with the same problem.  Service saved them from their addiction in a way nothing else could.

This week I am going to share some thoughts on service to God and others, to give us some ideas on how we might fulfil this command from Jesus.

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 NIV