"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30, NASB).
"Humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt you" (James 4:10, ESV).
NB: A non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms, for Christ came to serve (cf. Mark 10:45).
"... [T]he straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (John 1:27, NIV).
In God's economy, the way up is down, so to speak, because humility comes before honor; God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (cf. 1 Pet. 5:5; James 4:6). John was inclined to put this into action by demurring to baptize Jesus, saying he wasn't worthy to untie Jesus' sandals, and ultimately said, "He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30, NIV).
"Humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt you" (James 4:10, ESV).
NB: A non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms, for Christ came to serve (cf. Mark 10:45).
"... [T]he straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (John 1:27, NIV).
In God's economy, the way up is down, so to speak, because humility comes before honor; God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (cf. 1 Pet. 5:5; James 4:6). John was inclined to put this into action by demurring to baptize Jesus, saying he wasn't worthy to untie Jesus' sandals, and ultimately said, "He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30, NIV).
Jesus humbled Himself ultimately to the point of death on a cross, but on the eve of the Passover celebration, the Seder, He took a towel to do some foot-washing--demonstrating that nothing should be beneath us if we have a servant's attitude and heart, i.e., menial chores. This can be called the order of the towel whereby we serve one another in the body, for there is no elite in the church but we are all members one of another and family. No one is indispensable in the sense of not being replaceable gift-wise in the body, and we are all necessary for the body to be healthy.
Jesus is the supreme exemplar of servanthood, for He emptied Himself (kenosis in Koine). He took on our infirmities and limitations as man and stood in the gap experiencing our pain in order to be able to sympathize and intercede for us as our High Priest in heaven. We are exhorted to think of ourselves as Christ thought of Himself--to be of the same mind (cf. Phil. 2:5). Everyone wants to be Number One in the kingdom, but Jesus stated that the first shall be last (cf. Mark 9:35)!
Jesus is the supreme exemplar of servanthood, for He emptied Himself (kenosis in Koine). He took on our infirmities and limitations as man and stood in the gap experiencing our pain in order to be able to sympathize and intercede for us as our High Priest in heaven. We are exhorted to think of ourselves as Christ thought of Himself--to be of the same mind (cf. Phil. 2:5). Everyone wants to be Number One in the kingdom, but Jesus stated that the first shall be last (cf. Mark 9:35)!
Greatness in God's economy is not measured by how many people serve you, but by how many you serve! Real servanthood is when we forget ourselves long enough to lend a helping hand (cf. Phil. 2:4, MSG), and make a difference in the world for the good. No one serves in obscurity, for God sees in secret and will reward us in time.
John Wesley's motto was an example to emulate: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." Servants make themselves available and see open doors and opportunities to use whatever God has entrusted them to as stewards. Don't ever say that you are a limited servant and cannot make yourself useful when there's a need: if you see a man in a ditch, pull him out--don't say you don't have the gift of "helps!" Matt. 10:42 says that even offering a cup of cold water for the sake of the Name will not go unrewarded. When we've done it to the least of His brethren, we've done it unto the Lord (cf. Matt. 25:40).
In God's economy, it's not how much we can exalt ourselves or play the fool, it's how low we can go, for the kingdom of God goes to the lowest bidders--we must realize our unworthiness. "... He that humbles himself shall be exalted, "(cf. Matt 23:12). We ought not to think of ourselves any more highly than we ought (cf. Rom. 12:3). "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (Rom. 12:16).
John Wesley's motto was an example to emulate: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." Servants make themselves available and see open doors and opportunities to use whatever God has entrusted them to as stewards. Don't ever say that you are a limited servant and cannot make yourself useful when there's a need: if you see a man in a ditch, pull him out--don't say you don't have the gift of "helps!" Matt. 10:42 says that even offering a cup of cold water for the sake of the Name will not go unrewarded. When we've done it to the least of His brethren, we've done it unto the Lord (cf. Matt. 25:40).
In God's economy, it's not how much we can exalt ourselves or play the fool, it's how low we can go, for the kingdom of God goes to the lowest bidders--we must realize our unworthiness. "... He that humbles himself shall be exalted, "(cf. Matt 23:12). We ought not to think of ourselves any more highly than we ought (cf. Rom. 12:3). "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (Rom. 12:16).
Caveat: Do not imitate Diotrephes (cf. 3 John), who loved to be first and lord it over the flock, but be examples of having the mindset of a servant, i.e., of Christ. A final word to the wise: He who humbles himself shall be exalted! Soli Deo Gloria!
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