“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them. The kings of the gentiles exercise lordship over them and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign you, as my Father assigned to me, a Kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Luke 22:24-30
Then Jesus told Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
In the midst of this discourse, I note two interesting dynamics, First, the eternal assignment given to the disciples and then Simon being sifted by Satan.
How can we escape the snare of the pride of life, the desire for self grandeur, seeking a name, a title, a position that elevates and glorifies us? Jesus teaches it’s only by becoming a servant to all.
This place of pride and self exaltation is probably the proverbial Achilles heal.
From Matthews gospel we find a similar scenario. James’ and John’s mother ask for her sons to have this exalted place at the side of Jesus when he comes into his Kingdom. This creates indignation and offence among the others. Jesus declares that those who desire to be first must first be servants. Pointing to his own life he says, “the son of man has come to serve AND give his life as a ransom for many.”
Putting others first always requires giving up your life in some fashion; whether it’s time or money, it costs us something to serve others.
Just as Jesus was tempted and tested when Satan offered him all the glory and power of the Kingdoms if he would bow and worship Him, we will find our lives tested to see if we are free from the pride of life or tempted to find another way to hold power, glory and honour by self exaltation instead of humbling ourselves to serve and worship only the Father.
The proving and the testing comes and hopefully finds us yielding our lives in service for our Lord, fitted and useful for our eternal purposes. I don’t think this is a one time deal. Paul said in his letter to the church at Corinth, I die daily. Humility is the only cure for pride. I must decrease. He must increase. Serving is a very natural event that works to keep our hearts and minds checked.
We must continually remind ourselves that anything we do possess has come into our lives by the goodness of God. Jesus had nothing that had not come to Him except by the Father. The works he did were simply the Father working through him. He sought no glory from man but lived with a purpose to simply please His Father in all his doings and being.
Being seated with Him in heavenly places, is not only a profound privilege but a weighty responsibility, demanding our expression here on earth to be void of personal thoughts and agendas.
My prayer as we live in these days of separation is for our hearts to hold humility and hunger to be servants. May His Holy Spirit reveal to us any places of mind or heart that holds desire for mans glory or presses for promotion. May every resource we have and use bring the glory to His name and work alone.
Amen.