Think Like a Servant

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

THINK LIKE A SERVANT

Mark 9:33-35

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"  34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 

NIV

Jesus knew what they were arguing about on the road, but he wanted to give them the opportunity to be honest about it, and of course they failed in the honesty department. The point of their arguing was also a failure to understand the reality of the kingdom of God, but then they had not yet received all the teaching of Jesus yet like we have. We know all the words Jesus spoke; we know all the recorded miracles, all the recorded events of his life and still we are much like his twelve, not getting it yet. It is doubtful that we actually argue very which of us is greater than the other, that would be just way too of a crazy thing to do. But in our thoughts we might very well be thinking how we are better than someone else, especially those who have obvious sin in their lives. We might even have thoughts of being better than some other believer because of our abilities, education, financial portfolio, or even our particular ministry in the church. But we also know that kind of thinking is not the way Jesus would desire. He was really quite clear about being last if we what to be first and being the servant of all. It may not be easy to understand being a servant in our cultural unless of course we have been treated like one. But that is what we are supposed to be, servants to the others. It might be especially difficult to think like a servant when we are called to lead others in some capacity, whether that is as a pastor, Sunday school teacher, small group leader, worship team, or some other leadership position. It might also be difficult to think like a servant to others if all we do is attend a church service and go home. It might also be difficult to think like a servant to those who know so very little about the bible if we have been a believer for many years and can quote lots of scripture. There is all sorts of scenarios we could explore in order for us to see where we might be failing in our attitude toward being a servant, about being last, about putting others ahead of ourselves, but the point here is that is exactly what Jesus expects us to do if we are to follow him. In order to be a servant we much think like a servant.