The Mentality of a Servant
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? Chances are it wasn’t “A Servant”. Chief guides us in learning from the ultimate servant.
“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 10:45
When a kid is asked what he wants to be when he grows up, I bet “a servant” NEVER makes the list. As a matter of fact I would be willing to bet that most people don’t ever aspire to be a lowly servant. But Jesus did just that. His purpose set for Him before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:20) was to be a servant (Mark 10:45).
So if we want to have the mentality and practicality of a servant, who better to follow than Jesus? Let’s dissect Philippians 2:5-8 and see what the mind of Christ looks like.
- Rejection of Rights – Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. First we must give up any entitlement. Jesus was in very nature God yet He disregarded the right to all the things His position deserved and chose the life of a servant instead. What do we think we deserve?
- Identify with the Ignoble – He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Frankly sometimes we don’t think those ‘inferior’ to us deserve much of our time. Jesus showed us another way. He literally took on flesh and was counted as a man. Imagine getting rid of all your possessions and friends and then clothing yourself as a homeless person and beginning a new life under a bridge. To be a servant we must be blind to any hierarchy and become like those we wish to serve.
- Harness Humility – He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less. When faced with His own suffering and humiliation or the needs of the people, Jesus did not think of Himself. He looked at the cross and saw the salvation of people as greater than His desire to avoid the unspeakable suffering that lay ahead. Is there a price we are unwilling to pay? Is there a task demanding too much of us? Jesus became despised and rejected for our sake. That is the mind of a true servant.
No one aspires to be a servant because there is no glory in it. Pull back the veil of this world and you will find the greatest servant of all was exalted to the highest place (Phil 2:9-11). And He assures us that the last will indeed be first one day (Matt 20:16).
Camper Corner:
Campers, find the lowliest job to do in your house, and do it for a week. Also, find the lowliest person at school and associate with them.
