Dear Friends,
Last night at our Deacon’s meeting, we commenced our time together
with a conversation on what it means to be a servant, a quality that one would
hope all who were present would possess.
The chapter we had been asked to read from the book we are
studying, Deacons, How They Serve and Strengthen the Church, by Matt
Smethurst was addressing the most important quality that every deacon should
hopefully possess: a servant’s spirit
The author was quoting Tim Keller who was describing the last meal
Jesus spent with his disciples.
“Jesus served despite the unworthiness of the disciples. Notice
John's reminder that Jesus knew the betrayer was present at his last meeting
with his disciples (John 13: 2, 10). Jesus saw them all- betrayer, one denier,
all forsakers! When he needed them most, they would leave him. One of those sets
of feet was dirty and sore from an errand that arranged for his torture and
death. What did Jesus do, he washed those feet” (p. 124)
What a stark reminder our Lord has left us of what it means to be
a servant. We are to be his 'foot washers.'
Fulfilling the role of a servant will never be easy. It will often
be painful, and thus easily avoided by even those possessing the best of
intentions.
A businessman asked a friend, “How do you know if you are a
servant.” Wisely, his friend, replied, “By the way you respond when you are
treated like one.”
In our ensuing discussion we all agreed it is much easier to act
like a servant when we can choose the time and condition of our service, but it
is much harder to reflect a servant’s spirit when someone asks or demands our
time and place of service.
One of the greatest servants I wished I could have met is a little
boy named Chad, who Chuck Swindoll describes in his book Improving your
Serve.
“Little Chad was a shy, quiet young fellow. One day he came home
and told his mother, he'd like to make a Valentine for everyone in his class.
Her heart sank. She thought, ‘I wish he wouldn't do that!’
She was used to watching the children when they walked home from
school. Her Chad was always behind them. They laughed and hung onto each other
and talked to each other, but Chad was never included.
Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. So, she
purchased the paper and glue and crayons. For three whole days, night after
night, Chad painstakingly made 35 Valentine's.
Valentine's Day dawned, and Chad was beside himself with
excitement! He carefully stacked them up, put them in a bag, and boldly bolted
out the door.
His mom decided to bake him his favorite cookies and serve them up
warm and nice with a cool glass of milk when he came home from school. She just
knew he would be disappointed...... maybe that would ease his pain a little. It
hurt her to think that he wouldn't get many Valentines’ - maybe none at all.
That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table. When she
heard the children outside, she looked out the window. Sure enough, here they
came, laughing and having the best time, and, as always, there was Chad in the
rear. He walked a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst
into tears, as soon as he got inside.
His arms were empty, she noticed, and when the door opened, she
choked back her tears.
‘Mommy has some warm cookies and milk for you.’ But he hardly
heard her words. He marched right on by his face aglow, and all he could say
was, 'not a one... not a one.’ Her heart sank.
And then he added, ‘I didn't forget a one, not a single
one!’"
Each time I recall this little story I find myself thinking, I
wish I could be like Chad, and yet I have such a long way to go to possess his
servant’s heart.
Servanthood starts in the mind, with a simple prayer of three words:
“Change me, Lord.” That's my prayer for today, and I hope it's yours as well.
As I close, I suggest we be reminded of those words of Jesus, who
said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
(John 13: 15)
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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