“For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” – Luke 22:27
Have you ever witnessed a child getting into trouble by his/her parents and being told to apologize to the person they offended? Usually, this is done begrudgingly. Through pursed lips, a faint, “Sorry,” escapes. While this a good habit for a child to learn, in that moment, his/her heart is not in it. They’re not really sorry; they’re just going through the motions. In our passage today, at first glance, it looks like a no-brainer. Of course the person who is serving is the greatest right? Not necessarily. If they serve with the same heart as the child in our illustration, what benefit is it? You see, serving is about the hands and the heart. Genuine service toward others will happen out of the overflow of our abiding relationship with God. That is the kind of authentic service is what Jesus would call “great.”
Are you serving other believers begrudgingly? Would you honestly describe your serving as a joyful overflow of what God is doing in you?
