Who Am I Serving: Self or Saints?....

When reading Holy Scripture, we quickly learn that following Christ requires both selfless sacrifice and selfless service. Jesus Himself said this many times. One such time occurs in Matthew 16:24 which states the following: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Sometimes, this requires one to lose his or her life for taking a stand for Christ. Two examples of this recorded in Holy Scripture are the Apostle James, who perished by the sword (Acts 12:1) and Stephen who was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60). Additionally, church history is full of faithful saints who lost their lives for their steadfast faith. Furthermore, those of us who are Christ followers in modern day America know by experience that the Christian life is filled with sacrifice, though usually not to the point of death. Perhaps, you have been mocked at work or even unjustly terminated for remaining loyal to your faith. Maybe you have been rejected by a spouse or someone else you deeply loved because you placed your loyalty to Christ ahead of them. If you are a teen, you may be facing rejection from peers at your school due to your faithful obedience. While these experiences are very painful, this all-in and selfless service and sacrifice is what Christ requires from His followers. 

In Today’s passage from Mark's gospel, we see one of the biggest temptations that envelop Christ followers; that is to seek honor for oneself instead of selflessly and sacrificially serving others and Christ.  Let us look together at a case study of this in Holy Scripture: “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’ And they said to him, ‘We are able.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’” (Mark 10:35-45).

Now, it is easy to look at James and John and denounce how selfish they were being with their request. After all, they were two of Jesus’ chosen disciples. They spent vast amounts of time with and being taught directly by Him. They personally witnessed how loving and sacrificial He was. How could they possibly miss Christ’s example of humility and petition to sit at His left and right and to be in His glory?  However, do not present-day Christians also struggle with this same desire to be recognized and honored? Do we not relish the moment when others praise us for our faithful service within our church body? Do we sometimes feel slighted when others are acknowledged and we are overlooked? Or, do we help our neighbor repair his fence just to look good in his eyes? Brothers and sisters, it is so easy, like James and John, to get caught up with desiring personal recognition than to be the selfless "slave of all" that Christ has called us to be. But, if you are guilty of this, there is hope – for the same James who made this selfish request is the very one (referenced above) who was later martyred for his faith. And though it is less clear how John specifically suffered and died, we do know, based upon the above verses, that he also suffered greatly for his selfless service. While we do not know the specifics of how or when their heart attitude changed from selfishness to selflessness, we do know that it did. And, if so needed, God will change your heart attitude as well if you surrender all to Him.  Christian, let us follow the example of these two saints and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a ransom for many, and selflessly serve others and our Lord as we are called to do... 

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