One thing my husband and I try to teach our kids is to help others. To serve others. It's not their favorite thing in the whole world to do, and I completely understand! It's not mine either. It's a constant struggle.
Jesus knows the struggle is real in this area. He taught on humbleness and servitude often. But one of my favorite passages on serving is from Paul in philippians 2. He urges us to find joy in serving and having an attitude that reflects Christ's.
V2 - "Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
Don't be selfish;
don't try to impress others.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take interest in others too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ had. "
Then Paul tells us all about Christ and his perfect example to us in serving. There is power in these words guys! As you read humble your hearts, examine the posture and pray for God to work on our hearts to reflect the heart of Jesus.
"Though he (Jesus) was God.
he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. "
Then the power of humbleness comes in the next verse. Power that some day we will be in the presence of.
"Therefore. God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
I want to be in the presence of that power someday. And that "Therefore" in verse 9 reminds me that if I am to be so lucky to spend eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ, I am to be selfless, humble, and seek others interests. I am to have the same attitude as Jesus who didn't put himself on a pedestal or see himself as privileged. Instead, he humbled himself and became a slave for us and died a criminals death for us.
I will constantly struggle with serving others, we are sinners, that's just the reality. But as we continue to grow in our faith and become one with Jesus, serving just gets a little easier. Our lens in life becomes more outward focused. Our life becomes less about us and more about others. Or maybe someday when we truly grasp what it's like to have a heart like Jesus, it will become all about glorifying God.