Being a Humble Servant

The alarm was set with a few minutes to spare in case things didnt go as planned.  What I didnt plan on was having to get everyone ready all.by.myself.

Thankfully I had gotten all our bags and things we needed to bring ready the night before.  It was just the people (all 6 of us) that needed to be up, dressed and out the door at 6:15am.  We ended up about 15 minutes late and I was frustrated but not too upset -it happens and I did my best to be on time all things considered. 

Then it happens.  On the drive, I mentioned that hopefully light traffic so early in the morning will help and we wont be too late.  His response was, "Its not my fault we are late."  It wasnt even as much what he did say as it was what he didnt.

I recoiled, turned and looked out the window while I stewed.

If it wasnt his fault then whose was it?  Mine!? 
Was I the one that kept sleeping past the alarm?  No. 
Did I wait until 10 minutes before we needed to leave to get up? No.
Was he the one that had stayed up late the night before to get as much ready as possible? No.

So if it wasnt my his fault and it certainly wasnt my fault, whose was it??

Then something happened.  My eyes could see for a moment what my heart knew...

My husband is up early every day and works hard from 8 to 4 (usually later) and then works around our house most nights.  His job is demanding and stressful.  He provides for our family and protects us.  He is good at all the jobs God has called him to fill.  So why did I expect him to get up earlier just to help me do mine?

Selfishness and probably even a little pride.

See, I never told him I wanted, needed or planned on his help.  He had watched me making lists and planning out all that needed to be done that morning and not once did I say, "would you do...".  So how can I be upset with him for not helping?  Not stepping in to what I so carefully planned.  He is no mind reader any more than I am. 

"Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Mark 9:35

We are all called to be servants.  Well, if we want Gods best we will be anyway.  Jesus was the greatest example of this.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45  He did deserve to be waited on, served, and yet he would not even allow it when the tried to serve him.  (John 13:5+)  He was the King of Kings and yet the Servant of servants. 

Then comes the pride part. 

"for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."  Luke 18:14

Being a servant and doing it all with no help -not expecting help- is humbling.  Even harder?  Being a humble servant with a godly heart.  To be joyful in serving and putting all others and their needs ahead of our own. 

"do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus"  Philippians 2:4

Sometimes our words and our actions are right -we are servants and we appear humble- and yet our hearts are way off.  We are not cheerful or joyful but playing the martyr.  "Look at how hard I have it."  or  "Look at me and all that I sacrifice for my family." 

I dont want to do it all so that I will be praised for what I do.  I want to do what I am called to do so that others can see Christ in me.  And I want everything I do to be completed with excellence as if for God Himself and not man/woman/child.  In reality that is the case anyway.

"Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God ; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies ; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  1 Peter 4:11

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