MAKE A DIFFERENCE part 1
Mark 10:42-45 (ESV), Matthew 20:25-28 (The Message)
The church is here to know God, find freedom, discover purpose and then make a difference in our world. If we get away from our main purpose and forget WHY we are a church…then we cease to be a church and we become a social club of people who like to get together. What this world needs right now more than anything is for us to take our eyes off ourselves, off our own self-importance, off our own needs and desires, and see the needs around us then give ourselves freely to provide what God has so generously provided for us. When we SERVE our WORLD, we will MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
We all struggle with wanting recognition for who we are and what we do, in life there’s no debate about who’s the greatest.
Jesus settled it once and for all.
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)
I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Catching up with the youth, he asked what he was doing. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles and miles, and there are millions of starfish,” countered the man. “How can your effort make any difference?”
The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to safety in the waves. “It makes a difference to this one,” he said.
– Hugh Duncan, Leadership
John 13 – Before Jesus died on the Cross, He demonstrated His love by SERVING.
No one else wanted to wash feet. No one wanted to be the servant!
He was setting the example for them. We set the example for the world around us.
So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” —Matthew 20:25-28 (The Message)
There are some traits that most Christ-like servers seem to share.
Each one reminds us to take our eyes off ourselves, off our own self-importance, off our own needs and desires. Instead, we see the needs around us and give all we have to provide what God has so generously provided for us.
SERVE TO
There are actually seven different Greek words in the New Testament for the word servant.
Addressing his disciples, Jesus used a term that literally means “bondservant,” from the Greek word doulos: “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all’ (Mark 9:35).
Our devotion to God is a lifetime commitment.
In another Gospel account, the Greek word diakonos is used: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:26-27). This usage literally translates as “deacon” rather than just “servant” and originally referred to the seven men who were assigned to wait on guests at dinners and holiday meals. Like waiters at a restaurant, these deacons made sure guests had a wonderful experience. The concept reminds us to take the focus off ourselves and serve the people around us.
Finally, the last Greek word we’ll discuss is huperetes, which literally translates as “under-rower.” We see it used when Paul describes his own conversion experience: “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me” (Acts 26:16).
What is great about these forms of servanthood? Because they fit together to remind us of what it means to be a true servant: a lifetime commitment to serve people’s needs in such a way as to magnify Jesus!
1. SERVICE OVER
The Bible tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4, my emphasis).
Servants know that what they’re doing is not about them but about others. Following the example of Jesus, we don’t serve to get credit or praise, a PR boost or a photo op.
“Toilet Paper Guy” Gave Rolls to Those in Need
Leon Delong got restless and decided to do something meaningful after he retired. He heard that city office towers were routinely throwing away half-used rolls of toilet paper. Delong began to gather them and deliver them to a local food bank, where they were given to those in need. He did it for 15 years before calling it quits, at age 76. In that time, Delong gave away more than a million rolls of toilet paper. “I’m amazed how much this mattered to people,” Delong said.
Sometimes a small kindness can grow to something special for a lot of people. “Now,” Leon Delong says, “this is my claim to fame.”
—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell
2. CHARACTER OVER
True servants of Jesus have integrity. They make decisions born out of their obedience to God’s Word, to their conscience, and to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. They do what’s right, not what’s convenient or easy.
“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill–I’ll pay you on my way back! “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” —(Luke 10:30-37 THE MESSAGE)
Stop asking yourself what you will lose or what it will cost if you help someone. Start asking what will happen to someone if you don’t help them. If you don’t do it, who will?
3. “WE” OVER “
”
Sometimes being a Christ-like servant means collaborating instead of doing it yourself. This can be tough, especially if you’re an independent, self sufficient type of person who likes to take charge and get things done. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:44-45).
4. WORSHIP OVER
This final quality of a true servant motivates me the most. It challenges us to be stewards and use what we have for the good of others and the glory of God.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation 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 needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:31-36)
When we meet the needs of other people, we’re also serving God:
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (vv. 37-40)
We’re not just doing it for the person we’re serving; we’re doing it for the Lord.
Serving others is serving God,
How you serve is how you worship.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. —Jude 1:20-23 (KJV)