NEWSFLASH!

I want what I want, when I want it, and how I want it, and not surprisingly, this applies pretty much across-the-board in my life.  It’s not reserved to just my wife or kids or family or friends.

I want the stoplight to change when I want it to change.  I want people in the car in front of me to drive the way I want them to drive.  I want the cashier to be quick and efficient and pleasant and nice.  I want the bank to waive my maintenance fees without hesitation.  I want the store to honor last weekend’s sale two days past the window of extension.  I want everybody to laugh when I tell a joke.  I want my team to always win.  I want to hit the perfect shot every time I step up to the ball out on the golf course.  I want gas to cost less.  I want people to not post such ridiculous stuff on FaceBook.  The list is actually probably endless, and you know, when these things don’t occur, people better watch out.

A little more close to home, I want my kids to act the way I know they should, the way I expect them to, and the way I know they know is right.  I want my parents to let me be an adult, a spouse, and a parent without butting in.  I want my friends to be friends, but I want them to be friends in the way I need them to be friends, and it better be when I need them.  I want what I want when I want it and how I want it.

Biggest of all, I want my wife to do all of what I expect of her, when I expect it of her, and how I expect it, and when that doesn’t happen, she’s certainly gonna hear about it.  And, if she doesn’t hear about it, trust me, I will almost always find a way to let her know, usually with some form of passive aggressive behavior, like pouting, or slamming doors, or emotionally removing myself for a night.  Yes, this happens…believe it or not!

In a nutshell, in my life, I want to be served…properly, effectively, quickly, and completely.  Life is about me…most of the time.

But, you know what I recently discovered in searching for my true identity in Christ?  It’s better to be a servant than to be served, and not only is it better, but it’s a calling each of us has.

Christ Himself said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Mark 10:45)

But, isn’t that approach to life counter to what the world teaches?  Isn’t it counter to what most of us are instinctively inclined to do?  I don’t know about you, but it is for me.

So, how do we flip it around to where we more frequently emulate Christ?

I believe we first have to just stop seeing ourselves as people who need and want to be served.  Rather, we must recognize our true identities.

First and foremost, in Christ, we are…

SERVANTS!

And that identity, that title… it isn’t a conditional one.  We aren’t servants only at church, or only on Sundays, or only in our homes or with our families, friends, or people we like.  We aren’t servants only when we feel like it or when people deserve it.  Simply put, we are servants to the world…all the time…everywhere.  No “ifs, ands, or buts” about it.  No, “well, she didn’t do this or that.”  No, “he did this or that.”  None of that matters…ever.

In every situation, every location, every time, we are called to be…

SERVANTS!

That’s it.  That’s your true identity.  Like Christ, we are here to serve, not be served.  If we get served, awesome, great, splendid.  But, even if we don’t, we must still be…

SERVANTS.

When your spouse acts outside of what you want or expect, serve him or her.  When your children don’t do what you desire, serve them.  When the cashier is clueless, serve him or her.  When the world seems against you, serve it.

So, I ask you…right here, right now, this day, this moment…in what areas of your life must you shift from wanting to be served to knowing you must serve?

If you have no clue, ask God to show you.  He will, because it’s His will for you.

Friends, I greatly appreciate your readership.  Please feel free to share this site with anyone you feel led to.