Jesus played second fiddle with incredible pleasure. He was absolutely yielded and surrendered.
He never sought his own glory (John 5:41), but desired to do the will of the father. (John 8:42) Jesus did not seek the applause of men but rather the praise of his Father.
There was a wonderful fragrance about his person. He looked out for the interests of others. A great story aboutWilliam Booth the founder of the
Salvation Army has been told often, he was unable to attend the annual conference of his ministry, and wanting to encourage his gathered people he sent this message…
A telegraph, that contained just one thought one very beautiful word: “Others”. You see that is the very heart of our Lord.
Humility and service. His was a life of absolute self-abnegnation, and complete dependence upon the will of the Father.
Jesus was/is happy and humble. He lost nothing by giving all to his loving heavenly Father. He said:” I am in the midst of you as one who serves. (Luke 22:27) He also said I come not as one to be served, but to serve and to give myself a ransom for all. (Matthew 20:28/Mark 10:45)
In Luke 14:7-14 Warren W. Weirsbe points out that Jesus used the occasion to give insight into humility and service. In verses 7-10 he addressed the guests regarding humility. In verses 12-14 he spoke to the host about serving others. In New Testament times the closer you sat to the host, the higher you stood on the social ladder and the more attention and invitations you would receive from others. Naturally many people rushed to the “head table” when the doors were open because they wanted to be important. This kind of attitude betrays a false view of success.
Humility is the most important grace and virtue found in a human being. However it does not come naturally to put others before our selves, to think of others as better than ourselves, this is supernatural, only the life of God in the soul of man, by the infilling of the Holy Spirit can make this possible.
Temporal recognition here on earth means little compared to the joy, we will receive hearing from our Lord :”Well done good and faithful servant”. We need to be like Jesus with a towel and basin willing and happy to serve humbly, washing dirty feet, as an expression of love in humble service.
Let our motive be love of others and mostly love for our lord. On that great day when we stand before our Lord to give an account for the deeds done in the body, many who are first in the eyes of man, will be last in the eyes of God.
But many who are last in the eyes of man will be first in the eyes of God (Luke 13:30)
For further study see:
1.Phillippians 2:1-16
2.Matthew 11:29
3.Matthew 20:27
Also… examine the lives of George Muller, D.L. Moody, Susanna Wesley,
Michael Guido, Billy Graham in relation to humility
The Humility of Christ by Mark Gorgans
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