A SPIRIT OF SERVANTHOOD

 Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

Lynn Byers is a member of my congregation working as nurse in Haiti on short-term mission assignment.  Last week she sent this Facebook message.

'This week I hit a wall, a burn out wall at work. While the same problems & stresses are still here, I had an instance today which reminds me why I do love Haiti. One example was today when we were walking on the unpaved roads when it was raining, our feet got drenched in the mud. We were walking around with mud all over our legs (which of course the Haitians thought was hilarious)

I knew we couldn't enter into the store like that, so we asked a young Haitian male where we could find water to clean our feet. He ran and bought some water for us. Then he bent down while it was still raining in the middle of the street and cleaned our shoes & feet. An older man came over and gave us more water and made sure the young man cleaned our shoes & feet well. then dried our feet off with a washcloth he had. Neither would accept money (and they were not being creepers either, just very giving). While I might feel taken advantage of sometimes, the Haitians are very giving and serving people in general."

I wonder how many of us would have reacted to this situation as this young Haitian male.  Or would we have simply passed by on the other side?  Was is the recognition of his own neediness that made him alert to the need of another?  Was it the realization that he had something to offer to help if he was willing to take a risk?

Most of us are secretive about our own neediness and embarrassed (or perhaps, annoyed) by the neediness of others.  Thus, we want to help ourselves without the help of others lest someone else recognize our neediness and be embarrassed or annoyed by it.  And when it comes to the neediness of others, we'd prefer to be beyond its reach and impact.
 
Jesus has reminded us to be aware of others needs and to respond to them.  Servanthood is at the heart of Christlikeness.  Servanthood is at the heart of our loving Christ.

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." 

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn