My Lifelong Occupation

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded
as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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."- Mark 10:42-45

I have understood that as a follower of Jesus, I have to serve others. But I don’t think that I have always been clear on the point of serving as an occupation for the rest of my life. Am I willing to serve indefinitely or is it just something I am doing until my promotion comes through? I don’t find anywhere that there is a criterion or special qualifications to be moved up from the position of servant. Serving is to be the goal of our life not the means to our goal. Serving is not the step on the ladder to success in our Christian walk. I think that serving is the way we can glorify the Lord while we are here on earth. It is our worship. Serving is not something that we should be looking for a way out of. Servanthood is the very essence of our Christ-likeness. Without serving, without the heart of a servant we lose that aroma that attracts people to Jesus in us. The joy that we have in serving is what lifts us out of the circumstances in our lives and puts us in the mind of Christ. That is when we can truly find the peace in the midst of the storm.
Sometimes we need to stop for a minute and look at the motivation that drives us forward in the work we are doing. I used to think that missionaries in foreign countries were saints. They had to have such a servant’s heart to do what they do. Well, now that I am one of them, let me tell you something about that sainthood and servanthood. Everyone of us needs to take the time to make sure that we are serving. And that has to be the goal, just to serve. Motivation is a very strong force in our hearts. Serving and striving can get confused and so our motivation can also get confused. Striving is relentless, serving is tender. Am I willing to serve with no consideration of promotion, but rather with a heart full of the love of Christ as I serve those around me?