Thoughts on Service

As we continue our spiritual experimentation, my friend Aaron had this to say about service…

The significance of service is clearly displayed in both the words and actions of Jesus. According to him, greatness in God’s kingdom is becoming a “servant of all”. Contained in this servant of all idea is a global and local calling. While not all of us are capable of having a global reach, none of us can avoid a local affect. Whether we are behaving as a servant of all, servant of some or servant of self, we are affecting our surroundings. The question to keep before us is, how can we be a servant in all that we do?

As we’re walking down the street – how are we a servant?

When planning our career path – how are we a servant?

While out shopping – how are we a servant?

With roomates or spouses – how are we a servant?

With neighbors and coworkers – how are we a servant?

To our partners and antagonists – how are we a servant?

In the twenty fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, there is an account of Jesus speaking about a day coming when the righteous and the wicked are separated to go to their reward. There are two striking aspects of the parable that are pertinent to this subject of servant hood. First, the criterion upon which the righteous are distinguished from the wicked are exclusively acts of service – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, etc. Second, the acts of service directed toward “the least of these brothers” of the king are done for the king himself. This means the dishes you do for your family, you do for our Lord himself. The driver you let over in traffic may be our Lord. The neighborhood kids you take under your wing, the future generations you consider with your environmental and economic practices, the client and coworker you put first may not be the only ones experiencing your acts of service.

Let us set out to allow our roll as servant to shape our every action and interaction.