Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴³  “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;

 ⁴⁴  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

 ⁴⁵  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:41-45.  (Emphasis added.) 

This teaching is not easy to accept.  Naturally, we would rather be served than to serve others.  We would rather be the leader, so others must serve us, rather than be the servant or the slave.  Yet, Jesus’ teaching is clear:  “whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all”.  If we want to follow Jesus and be like Him, we must seek to serve others.

But, how do we serve others as we should?  Do we just try harder?

First, we trust God to lead us in the paths of righteousness.  “He restores my soul;  He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3  God leads us to the service that we should do for others. 

Second, we trust God to fill us with His Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit within us such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”.  Galatians 5:22-23.  When we walk by the Spirit, we will find that through this love and other fruit of the Spirit, we will serve one another.  Galatians 5:13.

Third, also through the Spirit, we can resist our natural desires to be selfish.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  Galatians 5:16-17.

Fourth, God also gives us specific gifts through which we serve others.  God does not expect us to provide the same service to each other.  See 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.  Those gifts help us to serve others.  Through the gifts, we can do the jobs more easily.  We find ourselves taking delight in our gifts and enjoying our service to others.  “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”  Psalm 40:8  “She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.”  Proverbs 31:13

Fifth, God provides all the resources by which we can serve others.  “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; … Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; … you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:8, 10, and 11.  

In conclusion, 2 Corinthians 9:7 teaches us what our attitude should be.  “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” ^“For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:12.  (Emphasis added.)