HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 304
page A302
Selfishness continued
• MAT T H E W 1 6 :2 6 | “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own
soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
• MA R K 1 0 :3 7 -3 8 | They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in
places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus said to
them, “You don’t know what you are asking!” (See note on page 907.)
Resist the temptation to make choices guided by a desire for personal gain. Such ambition
will lead you to make very bad decisions. It will also cause you to start expecting things
from God, rather than asking him what he expects from you.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there—if I don’t look out for myself, who will?
• L U K E 1 4 :8 | “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor.” (See
note on page 937.)
The highest honor awaits those who live their lives trying to honor others.
PROMISE FROM GOD
• MAT T H E W 1 6 :2 5 | “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your
life for my sake, you will save it.”
S
Serving See also Abilities; Compassion; Giving; Hospitality; Unity & Teamwork
HelpFinder
A popular notion of success in personal life is being able to afford the luxury of hiring
others to keep your lawn, wash your car, or clean your house—in other words, to have
servants. Jesus turns this thinking on its head by teaching that the highest goal in life
is not having servants but being a servant. Could it be that the reason he places such a
high value on serving is that it is others-centered rather than self-centered? Isn’t that the
essence of effective Christian living? Serving is therefore the opposite of selfishness.
The whole idea of service seems to run counter to what we are taught—to do
our own thing. What does it mean to be a servant?
• PH I L I P P I A NS 2 :6 -8 | Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as
something to cling to. . . . When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in
obedience to God.
In a most striking picture of servanthood, Jesus humbled himself through obedience.
• MAT T H E W 2 0 :2 6 | “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
Jesus revolutionizes our understanding of leadership by teaching that the best leaders
are servants.
• J O H N 1 3 :5 | Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet. (See note on page 969.)
By performing the task of a servant, Jesus models how far we are to go in serving one
another.
• R O MA NS 6 :1 3 | Instead, give yourselves completely to God. . . . Use your whole body as
an instrument to do what is right.
The Spirit of God transforms our motives for serving.
• NU MB E R S 4 :4 -1 3 | “Aaron and his sons must . . . put the carrying poles of the Ark in place
. . . cover the lampstand and its accessories. . . . remove the ashes from the altar . . . (See
note on page 124.)
Sometimes our greatest acts of service are in doing the little things that need to get
done.
How can I serve God today?
• J O S H U A 2 2 :5 | “But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that
Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold
firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”