“And they came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house, He asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all’” [Mark 9.33-35].

Caring for others is, by its very nature, performed in obscurity, unseen and unrecognized by anyone else but those giving and receiving the needed care. However, it is seen by Him who matters most and whom we most want to please – our Lord Jesus Christ. And He promises that He will recognize it in the Last Day as having been done personally to Him and His own body. Think of it as … those we are personally serving are also serving as the ‘proxies’ – in the Person – of Jesus Himself. “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers (and sisters), you did it to Me’” [Matthew 25.34-40].

And though, again by its very nature, it may be ‘humble’ service, it is by no means ‘menial’ as in ‘low-class, less noble, or below a more worthy pay grade.’ Jesus would call it among the ‘greatest’ of all callings and ministries.   

Every day I pray:

• that “whatever my hand finds to do, that I may do it with my might” [Ecclesiastes 9.10];
• that I may “serve The LORD with gladness” [Psalm 100.2];
• that I may do everything “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord … work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” [Colossians 3.22-24];
• to receive it not as a stricture on my liberty, but as an exercise of my liberty in Christ to “through love serve one another” [Galatians 5.13-14];
• and especially, that I may represent Christ and His Gospel well [1 Timothy 5.8] and be a living testimony of His love, grace, gentleness, and mercy – He who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [Matthew 20.25-28].”