Servant Living: Receiving More Than Giving

Mark 10:35-45

Today we meet James and John.  James and John are glory seekers.  They want to sit at the places of honor closest to Jesus.  They think they deserve to win the title of “Best Disciple.”  However, they might not fully understand what they must do for the glory that they are seeking.  James and John must not be men concerned only with their own mission.  They must be men who understand that as disciples Christ’s mission is their mission.  In order to later share in Jesus’ glory, James and John must suffer.  The suffering is not what is on their minds.  They are more concerned with glory, power, and authority.  It is clear that James and John do not fully understand Jesus’ mission. 

            It is sometimes easy for us, both as individuals and as a congregation, to get caught up in doing what we think is best.  James and John thought they knew what was best, too.  They thought it was best for them to be seated on the left and right of Jesus, but in the interest of themselves they failed to recognize the interest of God.  Likewise, when we try to maintain what is happening in our church or in our world, our vision can be clouded to see only our mission, not God’s mission.  Jesus was certain about the mission God had for him, the reason for his life and death.  He would not let anything keep him from fulfilling it, not even James and John’s desire for glory, to be at Jesus’ left and right side.

            Jesus explains his mission by saying, “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all.”  This is our mission too.  To be great and to be first we must be servants.  We are called to shine the light of Christ into the dark places of our world.  We are called to live in justice, love, kindness, and service to all people.  Often this servant way of life calls us to make personal sacrifices, sacrifices of our finances, our time, and our talents.  We are called to live in relationship with the rest of the world, which is not always easy.  Despite the difficulty we might face, we are called to mission, God’s mission.

            Jesus continues by saying, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus came to serve.  Jesus came to give us an example of the way in which we are supposed to live our lives of service.  In addition to this example, Jesus also took his servanthood to the extreme.  Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many.  The word ransom is often used within the Bible to refer to the price paid for freeing a slave.  We are the slaves.  We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.  Jesus paid the price of freeing us from our bondage to our sin.  Jesus paid the price with his own life by standing in humanity’s place, enduring the judgment that we deserved for sin.  Jesus gave his life as a ransom for humanity.  In response to that ransom we are redeemed for good works.  We are freed for good works, not because we ought to, but because we are able. 

            As members of the body of Christ we, too, are called to live as servant people, to serve rather than to be served.  While that might feel like a lofty job you would be surprised at how joyfully people talk about their service to others.  Through servant living one of the greatest things we learn is that receive far more than we give.  We set out to serve other thinking we are going to do something for other people and we often end up being blessed beyond belief by those we are serving.  A few weeks ago when I met with the group that is gearing up to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua I said, “you will receive far more than you give.”  That is the truth of servant living.  We almost always receive more than we give. 

This week I read a story of servant living that had the ripple effect.  One person’s servant living caused others to live as servants.  A guest got to the register at Target and didn’t have the money to pay, his debit card had declined him, so he went off to make phone calls and see if he could get the money.  Another guest overhearing his situation, and seeing him, his wife, and 5 year old child, obviously struggling in life, said to me when I was about half way through ringing her up, "I want to pay their bill."  The cashier said, "It's a lot, it's $161.85.”  To that she said, "I have needed help before, and I want to help them."  So the cashier went ahead and brought up their transaction, and she proceeded to pay for it.  The cashier finished up with her, and her and her husband walked away quietly.  When the gentleman came back to explain that he was trying to still get a hold of someone, the cashier explained that his bill was paid in full.  He was confused, the cashier went on to tell him that there are good people in this world, and even though someone doesn’t know him, they still love him and care about him.  His wife was crying and he was speechless.  Suddenly the guy that just got his bill paid, said, “I didn’t have enough for my bill, but I have $20 to pay for hers, here, take it.”  So, the cashier took it and it covered her bill.  Then the money she was going to use, she handed to the cashier and said "use this for the next person.”  Two teenage girls came up to buy a purse, the cashier explained it was paid for, and they were shocked.  Of course the cashier had to give them some history on how this had come about.  Then these two teenagers, rather than just spending the money the had saved, said "here, take this, use it for the next person, I want to keep this going.”  The next person was buying a birthday gift, and when the cashier explained that some money had already been paid on it, they were astounded.  This customer went on to tell the casher that he is a cop for the police department, and he sees so much evil in the world, and thanked the cashier for telling him the whole story.  He said, "this is the most amazing story I have heard! Thank you for sharing that with us.”  And as the giving continues to ripple out the gift that is received is even more powerful.

This week I posted on the South Canyon Facebook group, “Tell us about a time when you served and received more than you gave.”  Here are a few of the responses.  LaDonna Hamre, who is very active in the Sunday School program here said she receives more from the Sunday School kids each week here at South Canyon than she gives.  Diane Paulson, who helps in the kitchen for various events and in preparation for the Wednesday night meal said she receives more than she gives on Wednesday nights, “as relationships are created as meals are created and eaten.”  Kreena LeLaCheur, who is the outreach and small group coordinator here at South Canyon, reflected on the last mission trip South Canyon took to Guatemala.  While there she met people who had so little but went out of their way to extend hospitality and prayer.  This is only a few of the many servant leaders here at South Canyon.  Then I posted the same thing on my own Facebook page.  My friends responded talking about their experiences working at camp, serving after Hurricane Katrina, parenting, and serving at a women’s shelter.  Regardless of the situation or experience, one thing rings true…we almost always receive more than we give.

So how might we engage in servant living in the upcoming weeks?  Maybe you will pay it forward the next time you are sitting in a restaurant and see someone eating alone.  Maybe you will choose to mentor a 9^th grade confirmation student and help them to grow in their faith.  Maybe you will help with the annual Harvest of Crafts Bazaar.  Maybe you will pay for the person’s coffee in line behind you at Starbucks.  Maybe you will decide to make a financial gift to our ministry of the month.  Maybe you will bring a food item each week for the next month to be given to the families we adopt for Christmas.  Maybe you will hold the door open for the person behind you.  Maybe you will greet the person sitting next to you who you do not know.  Whatever shape your servant living takes I know that you will likely receive more than you gave.  And in serving you will be carrying out God’s mission.

            Jesus’ mission was to be a ransom.  Jesus came to free us from sin in order that we might serve God and all of God’s people.  We are not called to be a ransom for many, because the ransom has been paid.  We, like James and John, are not called to maintain ourselves.  We are not called to seek glory.  We are called by God to servant living.  We are redeemed for mission.  We are freed for mission.  We are called for mission.  Amen.

Reach Out and Care

Mark 10:2-16

           This week Jesus begins by teaching about divorce.  First and foremost I want to be clear that divorce in the 1^st century was much different than it is today.  It often left women and children to fend for themselves.  In those days women were at the bottom of society.  They were on the fringes.  They were on the outside.  Being served divorce papers from her husband only put her in a worse position.  So, Jesus explains that divorce is not lawful.  It is not lawful because of the effects that it has on these women, the marginalized.

            Many people today have been touched by divorce.  I would guess that a majority of us gathered here today have been affected by divorce in one way or another.  I am not excluded from this phenomenon, as my parents are divorced.  I have also witnessed the divorce of other family and friends.  I do not think it is my job as your pastor to stand before you today and condemn or condone divorce.  I think my role is to make this text relevant for us today.  To be honest, I think it is about much more than divorce. 

That is part of the reason that the lectionary continues with Jesus welcoming children, that the disciples were trying to shoo away.  Who knows why the disciples were shooing them away.  Maybe the children were sick or maybe they thought Jesus was too busy.  Remember children were at the bottom of society, too.  They were on the fringes.  They were on the outside.  Jesus, tells the disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to these children, the marginalized.

I think the lessons Jesus was sharing about divorce and children can point us to an even bigger lesson.  I think the message that can be found in our texts today is two-fold.  First, we are created, by God, to be in relationship with others.  Second, we are called to care for the marginalized in our society.

            God created us as individuals to be in relationship with others.  I don’t just mean romantic relationships like marriage.  I mean all relationships.  We were not created to be alone or lonely.  We were created to have friends and family.  We were created to be parents, to be siblings, to be friends, to be co-workers, to be partners, to be relational beings.  We were created to be in relationship with one another.  Everyone is created to be in relationship with others.  Each person was created to love and to be loved.  But it doesn’t always happen that way.  There are people who feel unloved.  There are people who feel unlovable.  Often the marginalized feel like they are unloved or unlovable.  They are the ones we are called by God to love.

Jesus was constantly looking out for the marginalized in the world around him.  As we know Jesus typically was turning the world upside down.  He would welcome the stranger.  He would make the last become first.  He would love the unlovable.  He would give the kingdom to the least of these.  Who are the marginalized in our midst?  Who is it that we, as God’s people, are called to care for?

A mother and wife is fearful of returning home.  She knows that her husband will greet her at the door with more abuse, both physical and emotional.  She is afraid of what might happen to their son.  Would her husband possibly hurt him?  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A father stands near the interstate bundled up as best as he can with a sign that reads “I need to pay the heat bill.”  After losing his job last month, his wife and newborn baby are at home in the cold house without the funds to keep warm.  He was hoping the cold weather would hold off until he was able to get another job.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A teenage girl just found out she is pregnant.  She has no way to care for this child and knows that her parents will condemn her if they find out.  She contemplates an abortion, yet wonders if maybe taking her own life would be easier.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A woman sits in a cell alone, wishing that someone would come visit her.  She has spent far too many days alone, locked in this prison cell.  She counts down the days wondering when she will die.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A teen finds ways to spend a majority of time away from home, because she is afraid of the way her parents fight at home.  She participates in nearly every extra-curricular activity, just so she can get away.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A man is sad, depressed, and alone as he sits in his hospice room.  He has no family to visit him.  He wishes and hopes for his own death so he can be reunited with his wife.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A young boy comes home covered in bruises.  At school his so-called-friends punched him while calling him names because he befriended the new kid at school who didn’t really fit in.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

A family of five sits down together, knowing it is time to eat as their stomachs beg for food.  The cupboards are empty though.  They have nothing to eat.  They hope their children will make it until the next school day so they can have a warm meal.  God, help us to reach out and care for your children.

Lest you think these are fictional stories that could never happen here – think again.  These people exist here in Rapid City, in our state, and in our world.  If it was unlawful in the 1^st century for a husband to divorce his wife because it left her on the margins, then it is also unlawful to let these children of God suffer on the margins.  These are the marginalized in our midst.  These are the powerless.  These are God’s children.  These are who we are called to be in relationship with.  These are the ones to whom the kingdom of God belongs.  These people deserve to love and to be loved.  These are the ones who we are called to care for on behalf of Jesus, the one who first cared for us, by giving his life for the life of the world.  Amen.