It’s not a new thing to want recognition, to feel important. Two of Jesus’s disciples asked him to make them great. Just straight out asked. And His reply can not be underestimated.
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Serving. We are fed loud messages from the culture: “Be strong. Be brave. Be amazing. Be kind (especially to yourself.) Be ambitious. Be smart. Be bigger. Be better.”
We’re never told to serve more. That serving is the essence of living. That serving is what brings us fulfillment and peace.
Women so easily fall into this trap which can cause us to miss out on the glorious rewards of living a servant-life. By design, if God has given you a husband and children, your first opportunity for servant living is in front of you.
Raising children and being a homemaker has one of the worst raps of all time. It is commonly regarded as thoughtless, mindless grunt work which needs to be supplemented with more fulfilling work. I believe home is the target of Satan’s efforts to destroy one of the Church’s most powerful weapons in the Kingdom. When women wake up to the enormous and glorious reality that the work of their hands in their homes, serving their families, has the potential to shake the gates of hell, I believe we will see a transformation in our culture.
The power of godly women putting their hands to the plow, loving and serving and building and growing homes and people that glorify God cannot be underestimated.
That serving then overflows to friends, family and neighbors. And we must be available for all the hurting ones around us! (I plan to do a series coming up on that.)
And what’s this all for? Look at the verse again…”whoever wants to become great among you….”
Jesus gave us the prescription for greatness, then followed it up by His own example of serving. The world doesn’t have our path to peace. The voices that tell us we can have it all are lying. It will only lead to discontentment and unfulfillment.
Jesus has the only answer. Serve with 100% abandonment.
7 comments
Thank you. Much needed and timely.
I’m so glad!
Sweet encouragement!! Thank you <3
You’re welcome. 🙂
This came up just as I have been struggling with the thought of being under my husband.
I love being under him and serving him. I really do.
But it’s when I find he treats me unfairly that I start to loathe my position and feel really neglected by the Lord. With questions like ‘Why does He care about my husband more than me, he is free to do and say as he pleases and I have to submit’.
I feel very selfish saying that.
I love my husband so much, I adore him.
But I am just struggling.
Olivia,
Without any context, just based on your comment, I would want to talk to you more. Feel free to message me privately, through email. I’m not “feeling” a biblical marriage, but I don’t want to presume things either.
This is a beautiful article. My favorite part is the beginning phrase on “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” I believe that when we manifest the fruit of the spirit, we will also manifest righteousness.