Lose Yourself!

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 

 

I read the above verse on the marquis of a local church and it made me think: "How have I done in serving others?"  You see, Jesus mission statement: "The Son of Man came not to BE served, but to serve others" is hard to miss and even harder to dismiss.  

 

We have the tendency, at least I do, to focus more on what we love to do more than what needs to be done.  Not every opportunity to serve comes at the opportune time for our schedules.  There will be times when our service may require late nights, early mornings, dealing with unpleasant sights and smells, and even facing some very uncomfortable situations.  But when we look at the example of Christ, we will see how service is supposed to happen.  

 

Jesus chose prayer instead of sleep.  Jesus chose 12 unpredictable, and sometimes unruly, apostles rather than the obedient angels of Heaven.  When these unpredictable apostles feared the storm, Jesus calmed it (and them).  When there was no wine for the wedding or food for the multitude, Jesus made both.  When it was close to His time to die, Jesus took the basin and towel, and cleaned the feet of these apostles.  And when it came time to make a way for our sins to be forgiven without ritual sacrifice, Jesus served us in His death and resurrection. 

 

If we follow the example of Christ, we begin to see that service is not always convenient; not always pleasant; but always needed.

Who REALLY Notices?

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Ephesians 6:7 

 

I love listening to the stories people tell, especially when the storyteller talks about the things I can remember.  I remember using a dial phone.  I remember using a metal ice tray with a handle on it. I remember when the freezer was referred to as the "ice box."  I remember, at some point, going to the church on Saturday to help cut the grass and make sure everything was ready for Sunday.

 

One story, in particular, I heard was about Michaelangelo.  The Pope had offered him a job painting the ceiling of one of the chapels.  Now Michaelangelo's passion was sculpting, not painting.  And he almost didn't take the job, but he decided this would be an opportunity for more work and he took the job.  Well...four years and over 400 figures and 9 scenes later, he had changed more than the chapel; he had changed the entire direction of art!  

 

One of the priests who had been observing Michaelangelo work asked him why he spent so much time getting every detail right in the corners when no one will even see in the corners.  Michaelangelo's response was priceless: "God will see."

 

There is a song, I may have used before, by Jimmy Buffett that addresses why we shouldn't work for recognition.  It's called "It's My Job" and is a string of stories about why people do what they do when no one seems to notice...their answer is always the same, "It's my job."  Yet I challenge you to view all that we do from the perspective of Michaelangelo.  True, no one may notice the hours you put in; no one may notice the emotional, physical, spiritual toll you pay in doing what needs doing; no one may notice....but God does.

 

If we seek the recognition of others, then we will get that temporary moment of triumph.  If we go about our lives with the understanding that God sees, then God's rewards for us are eternal.  Not a certificate. Not a photo op. Not a plaque or trophy. ETERNAL rewards.