My 6-month-old daughter loves gadgets. Already! Remote controls, cell phones and most of all, my laptop. She loves the lights and movements she sees on the screen, and the feeling of pressing those irresistible buttons that light up on the keyboard. Sometimes she’ll just run her hand over the smooth part leading up to the keyboard.
I dug into my closet and brought out my old laptop that’s probably more than 10 years old. It would be a perfect toy for my gadget-loving girl, except that she wants nothing to do with it at all. She wants Mommy’s shiny new laptop, the one she sees me using (probably too much).
The same tendency happens among the ministry. We often desire to do the jobs that are most public (preaching, singing, leading) because, well, they’re the most visible. It’s human nature. Ministries that are behind-the-scenes are just as vital: bus ministry, cleaning, prayer, administrative duties.
Jesus modeled what we now call “servant leadership” in His time here in the flesh: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, New International Version). In his writings to the Philippians, Paul instructs us to follow Jesus’ example: “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion” (Philippians 2:7-8, The Message). Matthew 6:3-4 implies that God will reward what is done in secret.
I saw a beautiful example of servant leadership this past weekend. I arrived early for afternoon singing practice and saw our worship leader’s wife, who has a very public role singing and leading the choir sometimes, with a bottle of Windex and paper towels. She was cleaning the front doors of the church, fully dressed for church that night. She saw a need and fulfilled it — out of the public eye. Her small, simple act reminded me that worship isn’t just a public act. It’s the daily pursuit of loving God and serving others, no matter what form that may take.
30-Second Prayer
God, help me to realize when I’m coveting title, position and visible roles for the purpose of self-fulfillment. Open my eyes to needs that can be met in secret. Forgive me for not wanting to get my hands dirty in the work of the Kingdom. Thank you for the beautiful example of servant leadership You set for us with Your life recorded in the Scriptures.
Take-Out
I once heard a writer and prayer-ministry leader share with a group that he and God have secrets. There are things that he does that only God knows about. He gave us one example (but only one, so the rest would remain secret). He was in a public restroom when he happened upon a stall whose toilet seat was covered in vomit. Instead of recoiling in disgust and using a different stall, he cleaned it. He realized that someone was going to have to do that, and it would probably be someone who has to deal with the nastiest of human filth every day, so why not give that person a break? Actions like that build character, and no doubt make God smile. Find something to do this week that can become a special secret between you and God.
More Scriptures on being a servant: Ephesians 6:6; Matthew 10:38-39; Mark 10:43-45
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