I am teaching my kids about money right now. My daughter Eden asked about why God needs our money. I told her that God can do more with 90% than we can do with 100% of our money. My son Levi was not convinced. His question is why doesn’t he just bless our 100%. I asked him how much he likes having money. He said a lot. I said Jesus knows your heart and your wallet are connected. Jesus wants your heart.
Throughout scripture Jesus defies social norms and seems to put culture on its head. So often His ways seemed upside down to other nations. Jesus told them to work only 6 days a week and rest on the 7th. Also to give a farmers field a year of rest every 7 years. Later, Jesus disciples were arguing over who was the greatest. His response was so confusing to them:
Luke 22:6 Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
Jesus says the greatest is not the one who holds the position of influence, a seat of power, or the greatest pedigree but as a servant. Other translations substitute servant for slave. In the roman empire, a slave and servant where of the lowest position. Jesus said to aspire to be like them. Wait, Jesus wants me to be a slave. Yes, His slave. Now Jesus said He came not to be served but to serve. Jesus is not some terrible slave master but a serving King.
We have been made right with God by grace through faith in Jesus, we have been given freedom from sin and death. Now our lives are not our own. We have been purchased. Greatness in the Kingdom now sits with the slaves in Christ.
Where are you serving? Jesus wants you to serve His church with the time, talent, talk, and treasure He has entrusted you with. Where do you need to take a greater role as a servant? Who do you need to serve at home today? Who do you need to serve at work?
I believe at the end of our lives we will not celebrate the money, things, or accomplishments we have acquired, but the ways we have been able to give, serve, and people we were able to love. So start today! Serve someone today.
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
