Attitude of Servitude

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

ATTITUDE OF SERVITUDE

Matt 18:1-6

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

NIV

Both Luke and Mark also record this conversation but a little differently than Matthew. They include the fact the disciples were having somewhat of an argument as to who would be the greatest in his kingdom. The idea conveys they thought he was going to set up an earthly kingdom, overthrowing the Roman occupiers as well as the Jewish king. They then would be the ones to take on various offices or positions in his kingdom, leadership roles. Who would be the second in command? Who would be the secretary of State, or whatever positions the disciples thought were of high esteem. Mark includes the response of Jesus telling them the one who wants to be first should be the very last and servant of them all. Here Matthew records that Jesus took a little child and used that child as an example of how the disciples should think and behave. Of course not to actually be a child, but the idea is that children generally have no ambitions, have little, if any pride and haughtiness, but are humble.  For the most part children have complete faith in their parents to provide everything they need and want. The idea of childlike faith has been used many times by preachers. Jesus tells them unless they change, or be converted in their thinking they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. They should think as a child, with no personal ambition of being the greatest in the kingdom. They should think as a child with not pride in their position in life, or their knowledge of who he is. They should think as a child trusting in him completely, not thinking about their abilities. What a lesson for us. We have spent much of our youth being taught to strive for success. We have been almost indoctrinated with the concept of being the best we can be, to climb to the top of whatever profession in life we enter. In school we are faced with being graded for our abilities of passing tests or gaining enough knowledge. We are pressured into thinking we need to store up our wealth and our position in life is based on our abilities to earn great amounts of wealth. The more money we make, the more power we can exert over others. Everything is about being the greatest. Now when it comes to the kingdom of God, to our Christianity, are we in some way still thinking as the world has taught us? Do we have any pride in our position in the body of Christ? Do we desire to be in a prominent role in the church? Do we think better of ourselves because we have what seems to be a greater understanding of scripture then some others? Do we consider our ministry more important than some others? Do we really have an attitude of servitude? Sometimes that becomes difficult when others lift us up. If people are giving us praise for our knowledge or our abilities or talents and especially our gifts from God, it can become easy to get a little puffed up. There is a difference in encouraging one another and praising one another. To encourage someone implies that we exhort them in their walk. This is the meaning of the Greek word translated encourage. It also means to comfort as Jesus used it to define the Holy Spirit, “Parakaleo” the comforter, the exhorter. But we should not be seeking the praise from men but from God. In this context that praise from God is for being like a child in our attitudes, believing in our Father, trusting him for everything we need and want, being humble and lowly in position in the family. Now at the same time we should be attentive to how we treat others, seeing them as fragile as little children. How could we ever do harm to a child? Yet do we do harm to each other in some way? Do we hurt another’s feelings or cause another believer to have any ill feelings toward us? Do we criticize them is some way which creates ill will? This is especially true in marriages and with our children, but can also happen in the church family. This whole concept takes in so much of other scripture, again it might take a book to explore completely. Yet let us suffice to say that we need to see life as a child, at least in the kingdom of God, in which we live, have our citizenship in. It is not about being the greatest, it is about being the least among us. An attitude of servitude.