Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share 26: The Importance of Service
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
26: The Importance of Service
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Lesson Thoughts
Central to our life as Christians is an attitude of service. The apostle Paul recorded in (Philippians 2:5-8) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Paul teaches us about the attitude we as Christians are to possess. We are to have the mind of Christ. Christ did not consider His glory at the right hand of the Father something to be held on to at all costs. It was in giving this up that He took on flesh, lived among us, and completed the redemptive work for all mankind. Christ became the servant of all, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
The Lord said of Himself in (Matthew 20:28) “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
If we are going to follow Christ, an attitude of service will be a central attitude in our lives, as this is what Jesus demonstrated in His life.
Necessary for an attitude of service is a heart of humility. Serving will not always be easy. Serving requires work, effort, and at times doing things others would not want to do. Jesus demonstrated this attitude of service and humility when He took a water basin and towel, and knelt down to wash the disciple's feet (John 13). When Jesus had washed their feet, He sat down and asked the disciples “Do you know what I have done to you?” Continuing in (John 13:13ff) Jesus said “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. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
If we are going to follow Christ, an attitude of service will be a central attitude in our lives. This was the attitude of Christ and we are blessed if we do them.
Our service as Christians is to God and to one another. In (Hebrews 12:28), the author wrote, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” We, as Christians, serve God when we humbly submit our desires to His purposes. We serve Him by keeping His commands (John 14:15). We also serve the Lord in giving to Him our sacrifice of praise. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) Jesus served the Father. He (Jesus) came not to do His own will but the will of the One who sent Him (John 6:38).
Jesus was committed to serving the Father. This service included service to others as it is God’s desire that we serve one another. We are to serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13). We are also told in
(Galatians 6:10) “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
In (Luke 10:25) a lawyer asked Jesus a question to test Him, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded by asking another question “He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:26-28) These verses parallel (Matthew 22:36-40) where Jesus is asked: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” The great commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Jesus continued and said the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is asked: “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers this question in the form of a parable, one that we often refer to as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.”
Luke 10:30-37
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, “He who showed mercy on him."Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Notice with me a few points about our service to one another from this parable.
First, we may serve others in a way that is not expected. It should have been expected that the priest or the Levite would stop and render aid to the man left wounded. However, it was the Samaritan who stopped to assist his neighbor. Help came in the form of an unlikely servant.
Second, our service will place the needs of others above ourselves. The Samaritan, like the priest and Levite, had somewhere to be. It was the Samaritan who was moved with compassion for his neighbor, interrupted his schedule, and assisted someone in need.
Third, often there will be a cost associated with serving. The Samaritan gave of his time and of his resources as he helped this man who was left on the side of the road.
Who was a neighbor? He who showed mercy on him. Go and do likewise.
Conclusion
An attitude of service will be central to the life of a Christian. Jesus demonstrated His service to the Father and an attitude of service to others. In consideration of our service, we are to humbly serve the Lord through our obedience and through our praise. As we serve the Lord, we will share in His compassion for others. This service will be unexpected, cause us to put others above ourselves, and often will require sacrifice.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
(John 13:15-17)
Questions for additional study:
1. How can I better serve the Lord today?
2. In humility, how can I consider others better than myself? (ref. Philippians 2:3)
3. What am I willing to sacrifice to better serve others?
References:
1. All Scripture quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
2. Online Bible: biblegateway.com
Blessings!
Steve
About: Steve has been married to his truly loving wife for the past twenty-four years and they have three beautiful daughters. He is also the preaching minister at Southbelt Church of Christ located in Pasadena, TX. The views expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect the views of Southbelt Church of Christ. SimplyRevised.org, articles, podcast, associated resources and materials are a reflection of the ministry of Steve Ellis.
Links:
simplyRevised (home): https://www.simplyrevised.org
Subscribe to our email list: https://www.simplyrevised.org
Contact simplyRevised: https://www.simplyrevised.org/contact
Music provided by Eric Gwin: http://ericgwin.com
Southbelt Church of Christ: http://southbeltchurchofchrist.com
View all episodes
By steve ellis
4.9
77 ratings
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Lesson Thoughts
Central to our life as Christians is an attitude of service. The apostle Paul recorded in (Philippians 2:5-8) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Paul teaches us about the attitude we as Christians are to possess. We are to have the mind of Christ. Christ did not consider His glory at the right hand of the Father something to be held on to at all costs. It was in giving this up that He took on flesh, lived among us, and completed the redemptive work for all mankind. Christ became the servant of all, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
The Lord said of Himself in (Matthew 20:28) “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
If we are going to follow Christ, an attitude of service will be a central attitude in our lives, as this is what Jesus demonstrated in His life.
Necessary for an attitude of service is a heart of humility. Serving will not always be easy. Serving requires work, effort, and at times doing things others would not want to do. Jesus demonstrated this attitude of service and humility when He took a water basin and towel, and knelt down to wash the disciple's feet (John 13). When Jesus had washed their feet, He sat down and asked the disciples “Do you know what I have done to you?” Continuing in (John 13:13ff) Jesus said “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. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
If we are going to follow Christ, an attitude of service will be a central attitude in our lives. This was the attitude of Christ and we are blessed if we do them.
Our service as Christians is to God and to one another. In (Hebrews 12:28), the author wrote, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” We, as Christians, serve God when we humbly submit our desires to His purposes. We serve Him by keeping His commands (John 14:15). We also serve the Lord in giving to Him our sacrifice of praise. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) Jesus served the Father. He (Jesus) came not to do His own will but the will of the One who sent Him (John 6:38).
Jesus was committed to serving the Father. This service included service to others as it is God’s desire that we serve one another. We are to serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13). We are also told in
(Galatians 6:10) “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
In (Luke 10:25) a lawyer asked Jesus a question to test Him, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded by asking another question “He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:26-28) These verses parallel (Matthew 22:36-40) where Jesus is asked: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” The great commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Jesus continued and said the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is asked: “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers this question in the form of a parable, one that we often refer to as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.”
Luke 10:30-37
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, “He who showed mercy on him."Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Notice with me a few points about our service to one another from this parable.
First, we may serve others in a way that is not expected. It should have been expected that the priest or the Levite would stop and render aid to the man left wounded. However, it was the Samaritan who stopped to assist his neighbor. Help came in the form of an unlikely servant.
Second, our service will place the needs of others above ourselves. The Samaritan, like the priest and Levite, had somewhere to be. It was the Samaritan who was moved with compassion for his neighbor, interrupted his schedule, and assisted someone in need.
Third, often there will be a cost associated with serving. The Samaritan gave of his time and of his resources as he helped this man who was left on the side of the road.
Who was a neighbor? He who showed mercy on him. Go and do likewise.
Conclusion
An attitude of service will be central to the life of a Christian. Jesus demonstrated His service to the Father and an attitude of service to others. In consideration of our service, we are to humbly serve the Lord through our obedience and through our praise. As we serve the Lord, we will share in His compassion for others. This service will be unexpected, cause us to put others above ourselves, and often will require sacrifice.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
(John 13:15-17)
Questions for additional study:
1. How can I better serve the Lord today?
2. In humility, how can I consider others better than myself? (ref. Philippians 2:3)
3. What am I willing to sacrifice to better serve others?
References:
1. All Scripture quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
2. Online Bible: biblegateway.com
Blessings!
Steve
About: Steve has been married to his truly loving wife for the past twenty-four years and they have three beautiful daughters. He is also the preaching minister at Southbelt Church of Christ located in Pasadena, TX. The views expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect the views of Southbelt Church of Christ. SimplyRevised.org, articles, podcast, associated resources and materials are a reflection of the ministry of Steve Ellis.
Links:
simplyRevised (home): https://www.simplyrevised.org
Subscribe to our email list: https://www.simplyrevised.org
Contact simplyRevised: https://www.simplyrevised.org/contact
Music provided by Eric Gwin: http://ericgwin.com
Southbelt Church of Christ: http://southbeltchurchofchrist.com