Borrowed Breath

Do you know anyone who has a servant’s heart? They will go out of their way, it seems, to serve others, to think of others first. Do you know anyone like that? Now if they asked a favor of you, are you more or less prone to go the extra step to make sure they are taken care of?

In the scriptures, we read this of King Solomon, “Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (I Kings 10.23-24 ESV). After this wise and wealthy king’s death, Rehoboam, his son, reigned in his place. And the assembly of Israel came to him letting him know that his father had reigned over them in a manner that felt like a heavy yoke. They asked Rehoboam to lighten the load of the hard service they endured under Solomon.

So he asked for three days to make his decision. He sought the advice of the older men who had been in his father Solomon’s presence. And they had this wise counsel, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever” (12.7).

Serve them and they will serve you. Be a servant, and you will be served. Our culture would label this as folly. Only the strong survive. Step on whoever you have to in order to reach your goals. And yet, as I said in the beginning, people who serve others, who think of others first are more likely to find themselves the recipients of a reciprocal action. And these servants are grateful. They do not expect it. It surprises them and humbles them.

In this case, Rehoboam did not heed this wise counsel. He listened instead to his younger friends. They told him to add to the yoke that Solomon put on them. And this led to the division of the kingdom.

Jesus was obviously the ultimate example of serving others. The whole premise of His advent was not to be ministered to, but to minister to others. And His life followed that principle right up to its culmination on Golgotha. If I carry through on my little theory about those who serve being more prone to be served in return, then I should be quick to lay down my own agendas for Him.

O that I could say that it was true! Lord help!