Jump Starts # 1549

Romans 12:10-11 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

  Yesterday in our Jump Start we pointed out that Jesus served. He came to serve. Shows like Downton Abbey, have an “upstairs” and a “downstairs” mentality. The folks upstairs are served by the downstairs people. The downstairs people have to watch their ways and their tongue when they are around upstairs people. Two different worlds merged together in one house. Great show.

The upstairs and downstairs way of thinking hasn’t stayed just in the English aristocrats, but it is found in American society and even in God’s church. Pride poisons the good that any would do. Jesus told his disciples not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. Just serve. Don’t toot your own horn. Don’t be bragging to God, like the Pharisee did in his prayer in the temple. Don’t tell others what you have done. Just do it. If you are seeking a shout out from the pulpit, your name in the bulletin or someone to pat your on the back, then your motives are wrong and you might as well stay home. A person can ruin any good that he does because of his motives and his attitude. Preachers can even do that. They can ruin the good that they are doing because of how they view themselves. Upstairs and downstairs thinking doesn’t work well in God’s kingdom. We all need to be downstairs type of people. We need to serve where we can.

Our passage today, from Romans, is just one of many in the N.T. that reminds us of our relationships with one another. It’s not what we can get from the church or others, but what can we give. Boy, that thinking is simply hard to find today. People get married because of what the other person gives them or makes them feel. Politicians pass out promises like candy. Free college. Free insurance. Free money. It’s all there. It’s all for you. And the blind follow the blind. Long ago, Kennedy said in his inaugural address, “Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country.” Folks don’t say that any more. This hand out society has affected churches. Folks show little allegiance and little concern about what a church teaches or does. It’s all about what will you do for my kids. What will you do for me. Upstairs thinking has ruined our times. It has affected God’s people. Too many say today, “Why should I?” rather than, “Here am I, send me.”

In this Roman passage, Paul shows us our responsibilities and connections with each other. Twice the “one another” phrase is used. Devoted to one another. Preferring one another. Not lagging behind. Fervent. Serving the Lord. We serve the Lord when we serve one another.

There are many ways to serve. Some involve publicly such as teaching classes. It takes time to teach. In far too many places, the same folks teach over and over and over. They get worn out. They need a break. Some parents ought to jump in and teach, but they don’t or won’t. But teaching is so rewarding. Most of us who have been around a while, can look back are remember the simple Bible classes and those dedicated folks, many of them women, who carefully and patiently taught us the word of God. We owe so much to those kind servant hearts. Can’t you do that? Sure it takes some time. Sure there are hassles. Sure there will be days you don’t feel like it. But look at those young, tender hearts that you get to help shape and mold. Be devoted to one another.

Another way of serving in the public is to be an elder or deacon. Those are positions of service. Helping God’s people. Helping people stay with God. It’s tough work. But it’s so rewarding to see those families growing in the Lord and doing well. So many phone calls. So many visits. So many hours on your knees praying. Great work. Great service. And deacons, doing all that they can, so the church runs smoothly. Lights light. Bills paid. Help on the way. Faithful. Loyal. Dedicated. Serving. That’s deacons.

Another way of serving is preaching. The word “minister” comes from the word for servant. While the preacher may get paid for what he does, most would do it without the money. It’s a labor of love. Teaching honest hearts the word of God is so rewarding. A young man can make millions throwing a football in the NFL. He may stand on stage and sing a song and be adored by thousands of fans, but preaching the word of God changes the destiny of souls forever. It can affect generations of families. We ought to give more thought to encouraging our sons to think about preaching. Sure there are tough days. Sure there are disappointments. All of us who preach have horror stories, but you’ll notice, we haven’t quit. We could be attorneys, writers, CEO’s, but we preach. We preach because it’s an honor to preach. We preach because it’s our way of serving.

But service isn’t only in the public eye. There is much about serving that is never noticed. The person that sits with a family in the surgery waiting room—he’s serving. The person that took the time to send a card of encouragement—he’s serving. The family that invited another family over for a meal—that’s serving. The person that gave up a Saturday afternoon to help someone move. That’s serving. The person that loans his pickup to someone—that’s serving. The person that goes out of their way to be neighborly—that’s serving.

Devoted to one another—that’s the idea that we’re stuck to each other. We can’t get the people out of our mind. We are always thinking about them. Connected. Committed. That’s the idea.

Preferring one another—that’s the idea of wanting to be with others. It’s wanting to hear what he says about the matter. It’s choosing to be with others rather than being alone. There is a fondness and a liking here. We like one another. There is something special about that bond.

God’s folks are downstairs people. We are servants of Christ. Paul commonly referred to himself as “bond-servants” of Christ. A servant isn’t much of a servant if he’s not serving. A servant isn’t a title. It’s not something you put on a business card. It’s not a position where you put your feet up on the desk. It’s rolling up your sleeves and getting busy. It’s thinking about others. It’s doing what you can. And the reason for all of this is because you care about them and you want them in Heaven. You’ll lighten their load if you can. You’ll watch their kids if you can. You’ll open your wallet for them if you can. You’ll do what you can, because that’s what servants do.

Downstairs people. Servants. Busy helping others. I fear that some are too busy doing their own thing that they don’t have time for others. We can be busy doing wrong things. God’s folks are busy being servants. They are doing what they can to make that congregation warm, friendly, spiritual and faithful to God. They are doing what they can to get folks ready for Heaven.

Devoted and preferring—that’s the spirit and heart of a servant. That’s just the way it is with us downstairs people.

Roger