“Called To Serve, Not To Be Served!”

“Called To Serve, Not To Be Served!”
Matthew says the mother of the two sons of Zebedee took them to Jesus asking the favour that while in his kingdom he should give them the prestigious positions of sitting one by his left and the other on his right.
Jesus told them that he wasn’t in any position to grant such a request.”These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” Interestingly all the twelve were secretly nursing the ambitions of prestigious positions. We are told that “when the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.”
Jesus used the opportunity to school them on “servanthood leadership.” They should not copy the example of secular leadership where the rulers lord it over the people, “and their high officials excercise authority over” their subjects.
On the contrary, he made them to understand, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”(Mtt.20:20-28).
My friend, whether as a father or mother in the home; whether you occupy a leadership position at any level, how do you excercise your authority? Do you lord it over those under you or you become their slave?
Jesus is the perfect example who is Son of God yet he came not to be served, but to serve. Above all, “Christ Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men…”(I Tim.2:6), but among the all only many (the elect) will be saved from sin. Pray to be counted among the many!
To follow Jesus requires the readiness to face grave challenges; including the risk of death. It is not about occupying prestigious positions to lord it over others!
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for teaching us that our ambition should be to serve and not to be served. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!