“The Eternal Value of Serving”
Luke 12:35-59
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. – Luke 12:37
The way up is down in the Kingdom. It is contrary to the world’s thinking and sometimes even ours as disciples of Christ, but it shouldn’t be. Being in the world, however, sometimes taints us and we forget that we are no longer of the world.
Being born of the Spirit [ref. John 3] means that we are now children of the living God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you that ‘You must be born again.’” [John 3:6-7] These are the very words of Jesus.
The upside down way for a child of God is serving. Jesus not only taught this, He lived it. At the Last Supper just before His betrayal, He girded an apron and washed His disciples’ feet, even the one who would later betray Him.
These were the ones who argued about being the greatest. But in the Kingdom, which begins the moment you are born of the Spirit, the way up is down. The greatest in God’s Kingdom is the servant of all [ref. Mark 10:43-45].
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mark 10:45]
“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and
Lord and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” [John 13:12-15]
This gives us the all-important context of our passage this morning. “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.” [Luke 12:35-36]
What ought we be doing when our Master returns? We ought to be serving! But here’s the best part, and a sobering one. When Jesus Returns, He will again “gird himself” and serve you!
Ponder that one for a moment. Meditate on Luke 12:37 for more than a moment. It will change the way you live your life here on this earth.
