21 Days of Deep LivingSample

The Sheep From The Goats

This is what Jesus said to His disciples when they got angry with James and John after their mother asked Jesus to save a place at His left and right for her sons.

Their desire for position and status demonstrates a lack of understanding of the Nature of Jesus with respect to leadership and power. In the Kingdom, status, money, and popularity should never be the prerequisites for leadership. Humble service is the great prerequisite, as shown by Jesus’ own Ministry. Jesus came to serve for the benefit of those He ministered to and not the benefit of Himself. Our service needs to be focused on what we can do for others and by doing so we both honor and serve God.

In Matthew 25, Jesus explains that He will separate the people, one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. We see that the act of serving is the difference between the sheep and the goats. The sheep, the ones who live their lives serving others, are told to take their inheritance because of their service to God. They essentially ask “But Lord, when did we serve you?” Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

The goats are not so fortunate as they are called cursed and are told to depart from God into the eternal fire. And when asking “Lord, when did we ever see the opportunity to serve you?”, they are told, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45

We are all called to serve, in the same way Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Therefore it is through our service that we become more Christ-like. A heart of servanthood will lead to a life of generosity because before we know it, we are focused so much more on giving than receiving. We become faithful stewards of what God has given us (time, money, resources, etc.) when we give it away to bless others and therefore honor God, and not when we simply keep it for serving ourselves. ​​

Reflect on the following three questions:

• What is one way you are serving right now? What motivates you to serve in this capacity?
• How does it make you feel when someone serves you?
• When you help someone, you’re actually doing it for Jesus. How does knowing that impact the way you serve others?

At the end of our lives, what we want to hear is God telling us “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Hence, if being a servant is the highest calling, then serving is the highest action we can do.