Are you selfish or a servant?

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-39

My husband and I had the privilege of attending a marriage conference this past weekend with some of our closest friends, and it was incredible. On few occasions have I received such biblical teaching in regards to sex and marriage, and we all walked away feeling as if we had just received a spiritual IV to our hearts. The room was filled with couples ranging on all ends of the spectrum of marriage. Some marriages in the room were broken and hanging on by a thread. Others had just become complacent, lacking the desire or the motivation to even try anymore, but rather just going through the motions. Others were healthy and thriving, seeking truth to enrich their marriage further. The room was filled with people who were servants and those who were selfish.

Isn’t that what it really boils down to, though? Even outside of marriage, we are bent towards selfishness. “I want it my way.” This is an increasing mentality that is overtaking our world. This sense of entitlement is destroying our hearts and our ability to be increasingly more like Jesus. The challenge brought to all of us in the room last weekend was to be a servant like Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) When Ephesians 5:1 tells us to imitate God, this is what it’s talking about. Be a servant to all, just as Jesus was. Lay down your assumed rights in order to meet the needs of others. Put people and their needs before your own. Refuse selfishness and embrace the posture of a servant – those who gladly loves others as they would love themselves.

Can you do this? The answer to that question is, “Yes.” You and I both have the ability to be obedient to the Lord in this regard. The question is, “Will we?” Obedience is a choice. Neither you nor I are exempt from the commands in Scripture based on the excuses that we tend to offer: “It’s too hard!” or “That person is just too difficult to love.” Remember Christ on the cross – the SINLESS servant taking on our sins so that we could be in right relationship with the Father. That, my friends, is selfless love. That is the heart of a servant. You before me mentality could very well set this broken world free! Are you selfish or are you a servant?