Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. – Matthew 20:26-27
Most of the years I spent employed were in jobs that would probably be considered “service” functions. Although I did not make the actual product which made the company profitable, I did some of those necessary background things that supported the production effort. When I worked in a big company, there were service groups whose role it was to support my work. For example, there were facilities groups that installed new equipment for us; purchasing agents who bought equipment or materials for us; and shops that built small fixtures for us out of wood or metal.
As I reflect on these various service functions, I can think of some who “did it right,” and others who did not. One uncooperative typist drove me to learn to type for myself. One purchasing agent was a stickler for multiple forms. There was one shop manager who never followed through with the necessary product unless he was reminded.
However, I worked with many individuals who did an excellent job, and performed their roles in a courteous and friendly manner. One of my favorites was a man named Bill. He headed up a group of about thirty people whose job it was to make models which were variations of actual company products and were used to test new ideas. At the start of a project, I frequently met with Bill to discuss the details of the particular job. He invariably greeted me with a smile and literally acted like it was his joy to be of service to me. And his positive attitude rubbed off on those under him! Consequently, his group survived for years, even through numerous times of restructuring within the company.
Jesus was the perfect example of serving others, and He conveyed the concept of joyful service to His followers. Today, too, He wants His followers to have a servant’s heart. Sometimes this may involve more “perspiration” than “inspiration.” When that is the case, we need to remember not to spoil our blessing with a grudging attitude. From the depths of our hearts, we want it to be a joy to be of service to others.