The word SERVANT has many connotations: it is a person who performs duties for others, especially, a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant. A servant can also be a person employed in the service of a government. Finally, a servant is someone who is a devoted or helpful follower or supporter of a person, cause, or deity.
Servants are everywhere: consider Amazon, Doordash, truck, bus, and Uber drivers; customer service representatives; the people who cook, and the wait staff that tend to us. Firefighters, police, and garbage collectors are civil servants. Even politicians are supposed to serve their constituents, not themselves. Athletes and entertainers offer the service of fantasy, fun, escape, competition, and creativity, and we pay a dear price. Even clergy "serve" communion at worship "services" all around the world. Spouses serve each other and their children. Doctors and nurses serve patients. What would we do if the culture and will to serve were absent from our society? One definition for serve is to be of use in achieving something satisfying. When's the last time you served?
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were looking to be exalted to high positions in Jesus' coming Kingdom. They wanted to sit at his left and right in the place of honor. Jesus told them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”They said to Him, “We are able.” It is clear they did not understand that the cup was going to be suffering and the baptism was trial by fire unto death. The other disciples were not pleased with these two ambitious power-seekers, 42But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:38-45)
Can you imagine a world where everyone jumped to serve and to be the least known, honored, and recognized? What if it didn't matter who was the best, most liked, and had the most people "following" them? That would put social media...all media...out of business! What if we were trying to descend versus ascend the ladder of "success"? What if we were like Jesus, who left his throne to become a lowly human, and became even more obedient by His death on the Cross? (Phil. 2) It was this same Jesus who, at the Last Supper, took the lowliest societal place by taking a basin and towel to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. In the hour of His greatest distress, when He was about to be betrayed and crucified... Jesus taught them about serving. He said,
13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:13-17) | 
