“Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest. But Jesus intervened: “Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.” (Luke 22:24-26 The Message Bible)
With my last employer, as the Manager of Human Resources, I was responsible for organizing the company’s United Way Drive. One component of our fund-raising activities involved presenting employees at all levels with incentives, rewards that increased with the amount they pledged. Employees could get a reserved parking space near the front door for a week during the winter months and avoid having to walk on the snowy, slippery, parking lot pavement. They could even be granted a day off if, on an individual basis, they reached a specified amount of giving. The various supervisors and managers of the different units were enthusiastic, and just fine leading their departments and prompting them to support the United Way.
The attitude of being “just fine” disappeared in the case of a few managers when they were informed that they would have to prepare and serve the department that had the highest amount of pledges a complete pancake dinner. Stooping to a level of serving was beyond their view of greatness. So either they did not show up in the cafeteria or they served with a cold face and just as cold interactions with the winning department’s employees when they came to the pancake or bacon grill they manned or the drink dispensary station that they were assigned. Consequently, because they did not see the greatness in serving and because they let their big titles create a blindness that prevented them from seeing the benefits of serving, their departments did not reach any of their daily goals for that day. On the other hand, those who served others saw their departments achieve great things for that day and even longer. And their subordinates looked at them as great. Productivity and morale were high. The work was the same, but it seemed like a burden had been lightened. Now read on, for there is a lesson in this story: The way to greatness is service. It works on the job, and it works in the church, and it works in your home.
The epitomized example of greatness by serving is Jesus Christ. He got off His throne in Glory, took on flesh and dwelt among us, lived like a hobo, and had nowhere to lay His head. Yet He came to serve us by giving us a way to be saved. He exemplified service, serving others and He had a great impact on lives during their present times and in regard to the future destiny of millions. He did not do it for a reward, but He served out of obedience and compassion. How great is our Savior. Somebody is asking, “He didn’t get any reward for showing us the epitome of service?” Well, yes He did! After serving as our sacrifice on Calvary, after God raised Him from the dead., look at what happened. God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Other than to make you God-conscious today and perhaps move you to be more like Christ in your living in general, my prayer is that on this Tuesday morning that you will find ways to serve others. I guarantee you that you will achieve greatness and you will have a better day! Don’t Lord it over people but serve people. The way to greatness is service. Be blessed!
“Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48b NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King