Aim To Serve Others

 Matthew 20: 20-28

A Mother's Request

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” ²² Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority  over them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸ even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for others.

A mother always wants what's best for her children, but in this case the mother of James and John went a bit too far, not knowing as Jesus told her, what she was asking for. He calmly sets the standard of service to others as the goal of ambitious energy and directs his followers to seek the last place, to be the "slave", even as he came to serve and give his life as a ransom for us. In the end, this formula is what brigs us peace and happiness.  It goes against our natural tendencies, so we must keep vigilant through prayer that we do not slip back into worldly ambition. Praying over these words of Jesus frequently will keep us on the road of humble service.

Bro. Rene .