JESUS SPEAKING
But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the gentile’s lord it over them, and their great one’s exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 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: 42 – 45.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Nearly every society, from the fall of mankind until the present day, has been structured to facilitate the pursuit of power and authority. All social orders are shaped like pyramids that narrow near the top. As people grow older, those who have secured positions of influence are treated with greater respect. Those who do not rise to the top, settle near the bottom; the strong rule, while the weak become servants. Yet Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, was not born in a palace; he was born on the dirty floor of a manger. A life began in humility, was lived in like manner; the prince of peace served the poor and embraced the unworthy. He turned an ‘upside down world’, ‘right side up.’ To pursue Christ is to forsake the quest of idolatrous power and authority. [Note: This does not mean that you must quit your job if you are in a position of authority, or in charge of other employees.] Those who desire to follow the Son of God must search for the lowest position. A disciple is greatest when he is the least; he is the most alive when he is dead; he only rules when he truly serves.
The nation of India was founded on the teachings of Hinduism. Social order is a centralized feature of the Hindu Religion (as is the belief in reincarnation.) They believe in a divine hierarchy; a caste system in which a person’s position is the result of their prior life. When someone dies, they are immediately reborn; and the deeds of their past life dictate their present social standing. Those who were good are born into one of the four respectable classes (the top class being comprised of kings, warriors, and rulers.) However, those who were evil in their previous life are born into a class known as the ‘untouchables.’ This group is poor, plagued with sickness, and most have historically only been able to hold menial jobs (such as the removal of dead bodies.) This principle of Karma is well known by every Hindu; bad Karma needs to be worked off; by suffering miserably in this life, one can pay for the sins of their past life; through anguish, every ‘untouchable’ can hope for a better life when they die. Therefore, in India, helping the needy and the poor is often seen as interfering with their karma (if they help to relieve some of the suffering, they can actually prolong it.) Therefore, there is now a permanent underclass; a group of people the world has forsaken. And yet, although most of mankind has forgotten about these people, God has not. In the 1950’s, a Catholic Nun named Mother Theresa was led by the Lord to begin caring for lepers in India; she established a colony and made a place for them to call home. She also reached out to the abandoned orphans, the disabled, and the sick. From that time until her death in 1997, she served the poorest, weakest, and most insignificant people, the world around. When she received the Nobel Peace prize, she said, “I am grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry, the naked, the homeless…the crippled… the blind…the lepers, (and) all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared-for throughout society; people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”
Mother Theresa followed Christ; and it led her into the slums of Calcutta. Jesus has asked nothing less of every true believer. Service is a requirement. Whether at work, school, the coffee shop, the grocery store, or even at home, disciples are servants. A true servant seeks out opportunities to help others. The way up is down. Humble yourself and allow God to use you; lowliness leads to honor, and humility is the path to everlasting life. Those who serve others, serve the true and living God. Deny yourself; give to the needy; embrace the outcast; love those who have been abandoned; prefer others, and God will one day raise you up to a place of eternal honor.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we desperately desire to be lowly. Help us to serve others with zeal. Please provide us with opportunities to give of our time, resources, and knowledge. Grant us humility, that we may give to those in need; may we love those who feel unloved. We aspire to be great servants; may we deny ourselves to honor and prefer others; and may our hearts be filled with joy as we serve You and our fellows. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 