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Who’s the most important? In considering this question, I am reminded of the verse in the Bible where Jesus tells his disciples about greatness and says that the greatest among you is your servant (Luke 22:27). Of course, the disciples thought. How many of us think that today…even if it is a subconscious mind-set we are not acutely aware of. This would be the general understanding—that the higher one is in the ranks, the longer they would spend serving others, or simply the most noticeable figures, are considered above the seemingly menial tasks in the community. As a culture that values “climbing up the ladder,” it may come natural to assume that no one is above such service to others, thereby producing different approaches to the challenge of serving our communities. Today, regardless of the type of organization, there are three general approaches to this challenge of servanthood in our culture.
1) Ignorance
Have you ever stopped at a stoplight and see a panhandler walking around asking for money, and you know they are coming to you next? What do most people do? They either look straight ahead or find something so that they appear to be busy. (C'mon, you know you've done it.) Unfortunately, this same approach happens with many community needs that rely on the service of faithful volunteers to function.
2) Deferment
Then there is this approach, which operates on the notion that someone else will surely step up. I think of my own children when they see several items or toys on the floor in my home. Many times, instead of just picking it up and putting it where it needs to be, they will literally lift their foot right over the item and go about their way. They know that it needs to be picked up but they think, “surely someone else will take care of it.” This is what also happens with community needs—everyone knows help is needed, but unfortunately most tend to look the other way or dig deeper into their own lives so busyness can be an excuse not to step up.
3) Acceptance
This here is the unicorn—the road less traveled. Someone bypasses the ignorance, refuses to defer to an unnamed source; instead, takes the responsibility upon themselves to see the need and make a choice to invest their time into something bigger than them. Those who accept the challenge of servanthood know that the time is never going to be “the right time” so it is up to them to make it happen because the need is not going away.
Today, make it a goal to choose to accept the challenge of servanthood. Whatever the need is, whether it be at your local school, coaching sports, community service, or at your local church, don’t be another person ignoring or deferring the responsibility away.
Yes, many needs are indeed thankless jobs, but the lives changed are immeasurable. Be that change. Make the choice. This is your chance to be GREAT. GO!
ABOUT KELLY LEWIS
Kelly Lewis, MA, is the Associate Director of Children’s Ministry and a content producer for the Media and Creative teams at Christ Church in Montclair and Rockaway, New Jersey.