Wednesday, August 31, 2011

no, you go first, after me




Take the word self out of self serve and what do you have left? Serve, as in service. Which leaves you with the decision, who do I serve? You or me? Then add self back into it, and you get your answer, we tend to serve ourselves. Rarely from a pure heart, because that is all we know to do, but sadly because more than we care to admit, that is what we want to do. From self serve gas, to self serve ATM's, we want to be first. Ever watch a mom juggle a few items behind your full cart? How often do you let her go first? Remember the car ahead paying your toll for you without telling you? Happened to me more than once, but how often do we return the favor? Or set the example? When is the last time you shared the road with a biker? Could be your pastor you just cut off, or me!
Police cars say "to protect and serve..." but when is the last time a policeman served you? Or when did you last feel protected? When have you ever prayed for the cop who has stopped the car on the side of the road? It could be the killer they are looking for. Politicians, perhaps the vilest form of life in society promise the world to get elected, but then follow their own agendas, then lie some more by trying to tell us how well they are serving us. All to get elected again, so the pattern continues.
We have become an all about me society. Next time you look at a picture you are in, who do you look for first? See? We all look out for #1, but end up acting like #2! And no one ever put two #2's together to form a #1! And so the pattern continues, and we become more self absorbed-what can you do for me? being the attitude we have.
But some are bothered by this, and seek to serve. But not at any expense to themselves. Yet they don't mind being put out for a picture or interview. Jesus addressed these people, church people, in Matthew 25. When He confronted them, they bragged on the things they had done. "We prophesied in your name! We cast out demons. We built buildings and put your name on it. We tithed. We even have a major religion with your name on it. We went to church on Christmas last year, and it wasn't even on Sunday! What more could you ask of us? Isn't that enough? I even have a title at the church"-but God is not impressed.
Jesus' answer was far reaching, and not what the crowd wanted to hear. And it may not be what you want to hear either. My question is, have we sunk so far as a society that we feel we must be recognized, and rewarded for doing the right thing? Have we become so delusional that we think God is here to serve us? Do we have the audacity to think that when Jesus tells us He came to serve man, that we hired a genie in a lamp to grant all our wishes? Yet I see many Christians act just like this. Grumbling to God or the church when they don't get their ways. Expecting God to drop everything just because they want something. "I'm here God!" And the only time they pray is to ask, and then complain when God doesn't answer exactly like they asked. C'mon God, what is your problem? Man, talking about making me impatient!
Well... since you asked, it is us. For in the answer of Jesus, we learn more about us than we wish to know, and more about Him that we wish we had known. "Be gone! I never knew you, and you don't know me. If you had you would have fed the hungry man at the Burger King rather than push past him to get the lunch special. That would have been special. You would have given water to the thirsty guy cutting your yard, rather than telling him to hurry up in the heat. When in the hospital you made a scene because the nurses were so slow, but did you ever visit to volunteer? To help? Do you remember just smirking when the kid across the street got arrested, but blew him off when he asked about your motorcycles, wondering what he really wanted? Maybe he just liked to ride, like you. Remember you were you so busy that when you met the guest speaker, you didn't ask him to lunch with you, even though he told how he missed his family and was lonely? And left more lonely than when he arrived?" For if you had, you would have served Jesus, for when doing it for the least of them, you did it to Him.
OH. And let the excuses begin. But God, I was busy raising kids. The car payments were killing me. The vacation cost more than we thought. Church-man I'm so tired by Sunday. Kids soccer, Kiwanis, jobs, hobbies, the Chargers, and the list goes on and on. While Jesus stands there quietly, his only desire is to bless you, and equip you so you can equip others. Continuing the pattern of love He started, by passing it on to all you meet. Seeing Jesus instead of the bum, or addict, or cop, or whatever. Or yourself. OH.
Making disciples He calls it. As you go on your way. Teaching love by living it, by trusting God. His only commandment-love Him first, then others, as yourself. So you can. But you must trust God. And how can you trust someone you don't know? Follow the simple instruction-to the letter. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, then everything else will be added. God first, then you. Simple, and you might just be a blessing along the way. And be blessed yourself. No more self serving, but serving others. Keeping your eyes upon Jesus. Who is more than a bumper sticker or a cross around your neck. He is the way, the truth, and the life. So let me start the process-what can I do for you today? And let the love of Christ dwell in our hearts. Pass it on. NEXT!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com