Mark 9:30-37
The other day I anonymously completed an act of service for the second time. If I told you what I did, it would cease to be service, because I would then be boasting. I could have been paid for the task, but if I had been paid, then it would become a job, and not service. Yes, it actually happened and it met a need, but it was never acknowledged or appreciated. The act was costly in terms of my time, energy and resources, yet I did it anyway. The action was something prompted by God that, by faith, I believe God will reward in the future. So for now it will remain an anonymous act of sacrificial service that I get no credit for accomplishing and gain no benefit from completing. In Mark 9 Jesus defines greatness in terms of service, not in terms of status or high position. He did this to answer a question and a brewing argument between His disciples. Jesus says that greatness is defined by voluntarily lowering yourself and serving, not just a select group, but all, without any thought of personal benefit (35). In other words, in God’s economy, sacrifice and service define greatness that will be rewarded by Him alone. Earlier in Mark 8:34 Jesus lays out the cost of following Him in terms of self denial and picking up a cross. In His day, under the rule of the Roman government, picking up a cross meant that you were walking to your certain death. Jesus wants His disciples to be ones that understand His assignment and take action to serve to promote Him, and not themselves. This can only be done with the attitude of a servant that places themselves last and others first. The greatest servant will never place themselves above any assignment or action with an attitude of superiority. Greatness is eternally defined as serving all, which was embodied by Jesus and should be imitated by us.
For More See MARK
The other day I anonymously completed an act of service for the second time. If I told you what I did, it would cease to be service, because I would then be boasting. I could have been paid for the task, but if I had been paid, then it would become a job, and not service. Yes, it actually happened and it met a need, but it was never acknowledged or appreciated. The act was costly in terms of my time, energy and resources, yet I did it anyway. The action was something prompted by God that, by faith, I believe God will reward in the future. So for now it will remain an anonymous act of sacrificial service that I get no credit for accomplishing and gain no benefit from completing. In Mark 9 Jesus defines greatness in terms of service, not in terms of status or high position. He did this to answer a question and a brewing argument between His disciples. Jesus says that greatness is defined by voluntarily lowering yourself and serving, not just a select group, but all, without any thought of personal benefit (35). In other words, in God’s economy, sacrifice and service define greatness that will be rewarded by Him alone. Earlier in Mark 8:34 Jesus lays out the cost of following Him in terms of self denial and picking up a cross. In His day, under the rule of the Roman government, picking up a cross meant that you were walking to your certain death. Jesus wants His disciples to be ones that understand His assignment and take action to serve to promote Him, and not themselves. This can only be done with the attitude of a servant that places themselves last and others first. The greatest servant will never place themselves above any assignment or action with an attitude of superiority. Greatness is eternally defined as serving all, which was embodied by Jesus and should be imitated by us.
For More See MARK
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