Tue 22 Aug 2006, 07:53 PM

This is the third entry in a series on Christian service. You can begin with the first blog, entitled Whom Do You Serve in Ministry? Also be sure to check out the complementary guide to this series for questions that will help you find a ministry that fits the way God made you.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:3-8 NET)

See others above yourself! What challenging words! In a society of hedonists, it is sometimes easy to give in to the world's wisdom to concentrate only on "me." As selfish beings, we find it hard to be concerned about others, much less to see them as greater than ourselves.

But that's what Jesus did, lowering Himself to our level, forsaking a life of worldly pleasures in order to serve. The Greek for slave in the Scripture above refers to one permanently devoted to serving another, giving up his own interests either voluntarily or involuntarily. In this case, Jesus willingly "emptied Himself" to appear as a slave.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:14 VW)

What's the "lowest" job you've ever done in your service to Christ?
God may not ask us to wash another person's feet, but we should be ready to say "yes" to His leading no matter what. What job are you afraid God may ask of you? Befriending a peculiar individual? Working with a group of people who are different from you? Leaving what you know (e.g., locale, job, present ministry) to serve elsewhere or in another fashion?
Pray for God's heart on this. If you have resolved to move forward with something God has revealed to you, tell someone who will keep you accountable.

Go to the next installment of this series, Can I Serve If I'm Not in a Long-Term Ministry?