THE LORD IS LOOKING FOR SERVANTS

Matthew 20:26-28

Morning Meditation 11/4/2012

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

The natural man is looking for a position. This is also true in the Church. In my first pastorate a man came to me and asked me to ordain him as a deacon. As young a preacher as I was, I knew this was not right. I told him that his request automatically disqualified him. He didn't take it too well. To him this would be an advancement in the kingdom of God, i.e. prestige and authority.

This text flows out of Matthew 20:20-23, "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."

The mother went to bat for her two son who were already disciples of the Lord. She said, "I just have a little request. Would you let James and John sit the one on Your right hand and the other on Your left when You come in to Your kingdom.

Jesus answered her and said, "Ye know not what ye ask." The "Ye" is the plural "you" so the sons were probably in on this request to. Nothing like planning ahead. Especially when it comes to being on our Lord's cabinet in heaven.

Jesus answer had to be a disappointment. The rest of the disciples were upset with James and John. Matthew 20:23, "And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."

Jesus simply tells them that the Father is in charge of such things. However, Jesus told the disciples how to be great. Matthew 20:26-27, "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" The teaching of Christ is, for one to be great, one must be a servant. He set the example in this. Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

You can read about our Lord's demonstration of this principle in John 13 where He washed the disciples feet.

The following are some sayings that relate to service:

"Those whom God will employ are first struck with as sense of their unworthiness to be employed." --Matthew Henry.

"No man's life is for his private use." --Anon.

"Service to God through service to mankind is the only motivation acceptable to God for diligence and hard work in our vocational calling. --Jerry Bridges

May the Lord bless this to our hearts and give us the spirit of the servant.

In Christ

Bro. White